Sabarimala: CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has slammed the chief priest of the Lord Ayyappa temple here for shutting down the sanctum sanctorum following the entry of two women into the shrine.
Kodiyeri on Wednesday told reporters here that Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru's decision to shut down the temple and conduct purification rituals was in violation of the Supreme Court verdict that lifted the ban on women of 10-50 age group from entering the temple.
Kodiyeri said those who were bound to implement the apex court order were violating it. He said the Supreme Court and the Travancore Devaswom Board should examine the Tantri's decision.
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He also urged an experts' panel appointed by the Kerala High Court to look into the affairs in the temple to review the Tantri's action.
“The government's stance is that women who wish to visit the temple should not be stopped. Now, two women have managed to enter the temple. We should accept the fact as it is and move forward. It should be examined why the Tantri took a provocative stance,” he said.
Two women in their forties, Bindu and Kanakadurga, on Wednesday claimed to have prayed at the temple in the wee hours of the day. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed the news later.
Leader of opposition in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said CM Pinarayi and Kerala government were challenging the people of Kerala by allowing two activists to enter the shrine. He alleged a conspiracy that hurt the sentiments of the believers behind the government's move to give protection to the two women.
BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai said the Pinarayi-led government will have to pay a hefty price for its atheist stance. He said the wounds in the believers' minds will never heal. He likened Pinarayi to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who implemented the Jizya tax on non-Muslim subjects.
BJP leader M T Ramesh said his party will support the "Nama Japam" (chanting of Ayyappa prayers) protest to be undertaken by the devotees across the state in the next two days.
"CPI(M) agenda is clear now. They want women to enter the temple. For the first time in the history the temple has been closed due to breaking of tradition. The chief minister is responsible for this," Ramesh said.
Ayyappa Dharma Sena president Rahul Easwar, who has been opposing the Supreme Court verdict, blamed the Kerala Police for protecting the women.
“It's absolute shame that police secretly did all these. Why are they scared? Whom are they scared of? Why they have to do things in secret?” He asked.
He also asserted that he would continue to fight for justice. “The women's entry to the temple won't affect our case in Supreme Court and we will fight and we will win too,” he said.
