Sabarimala verdict: No confusion in Congress, says Khushbu

A day after Congress president Rahul Gandhi contradicted the stand adopted by his party's Kerala unit on the Sabarimala issue, AICC spokesperson Khushbu Sundar claimed on Thursday that there was no confusion in the party over the Supreme Court's recent verdict allowing women of all ages to enter the shrine.

While the Kerala Congress Pradesh Committee (KPCC) has rallied behind the devotees who have been protesting against the state government's decision to implement the top court order, Rahul on Tuesday maintained that he was in favour of women's entry into the temple, putting his party on the defensive.

“So far as we are concerned, the historic verdict of the Supreme Court regarding the entry of women into the temple is final. However, we are aware of the fact that people of Kerala have a different opinion on this,” Khushbu said, adding that the court has nullified a centuries-old tradition.

While talking at an election campaign in Madhya Pradesh, the actor-turned-politician said Congress party doesn't believe in gender discrimination. “We know that each religion has different customs and beliefs. Many people in Kerala, including women, support the age-old custom at Sabarimala,” she said.

Khushbu also launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of using the Sabarimala issue for communal polarisation. The BJP is trying to make inroads into the southern states, but the reality is that the people there have closed their doors for the party, she said.

The Supreme Court, on September 28, had lifted the ban on women aged between 10 and 50 to enter the hill shrine, sparking widespread protests across Kerala. A slew of review petitions were filed against the verdict which the court will hear on November 13.