Kochi: BJP's Kerala unit woke up to an embarrassing Thursday when the party's Malayalam mouthpiece Janmabhoomi carried an article that effectively backed the Supreme Court decision that allowed women to go on a pilgrimage to Sabarimala.
The article, written by Bharatiya Vichara Kendram deputy director R Sanjayan, has flagged attempts to create rifts in the Hindu community in the name of women's entry into the popular hill shrine. “Women's presence in Sabarimala will not affect the temple's rituals and customs in any way. It will only enhance the temple's glory and fame. Women were barred from Sabarimala only on the basis of conventions, not any ritual or logic,” Sanjayan wrote.
The article could not have appeared at a worse time for the BJP, which has been trying to gain lost ground by launching an agitation against the state government's move to enforce the Supreme Court order.
Sabarimala tantri Mahesh Mohanaru has said that women could not be allowed in Sabarimala only on the basis of a court order. He said that no one has consulted the family of tantris or the Panthalam royal family on this matter.
“Reforms have to take into account the rituals and customs followed in each temple. Sabarimala has a culture of respecting women. The broad-based protest in the issue could not be ignored,” he told Manorama News in Kozhikode.
The opposition Congress has thrown its weight behind the conservatives irked by the judgement. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala went into a huddle with former chairmen of the Travancore Devaswom Board at his official residence on Thursday. KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran also took part in the meeting.
They are expected to explore future course of action including the filing of a review petition.
