Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is pondering on calling in central forces as the standoff over Sabarimala temple escalates. A decision at the government-level is still away, but the leading partners, CPM and CPI, have discussed it.
The BJP would be caught in a fix if central forces replace the state police for security duties at the shrine. The argument is that the deployment of central forces would dampen the BJP-led agitation over the Sabarimala issue.
The LDF has decided to wait until the Supreme Court gives a response to the Travancore Devaswom Board's petition seeking time to implement the court's September 28 verdict that allowed the entry of women of child-bearing age who have been traditionally barred from the shrine of the celibate deity, Lord Ayyappa.
The BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits are firm on their stand that they will never let young women enter the temple. Their decision is to paralyse Kerala if the verdict is implemented. The state police will be left alone to face the stir. That has prompted the LDF thinking that central forces should be summoned if things get out of hand.
Those who support the argument point out that such a move could be based on a letter sent by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to the state chief secretary. The letter, which followed the Supreme Court ruling, suggested that all precaution should be taken at Sabarimala, and law-and-order and security measures should be enforced.
The state government had released the letter ahead of the peak Mandalakala-Makaravilakku season which started on November 16. The season, which stretches until January 20, normally draws crores of pilgrims.
It was not by coincidence that CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan recalled the letter on Sunday.
Central forces are normally called in dire situations like anti-national moves, border issues, election-related tensions etc. The MHA has insisted that central forces should not be called to replace the state police. Such a move can also raise the allegation that the state police has failed.
The Congress and the BJP had raised the charge that central forces were not called even during the devastating floods of August. The government will have to consider all these facts as also the political fallout, before they take a final decision.
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