Women’s entry in Sabarimala a closed chapter, CPM supports devotees: MV Govindan

Thiruvananthapuram: Amid the political row over the Global Ayyappa Sangamam scheduled to be held at Pampa on September 20, CPM state secretary MV Govindan said the LDF government will not back out from the event and reaffirmed that his party stands with the devotees.

“Our party will support the devotees. The CPM will fight against communal forces by standing with them,” Govindan told the media on Tuesday.

When asked about women’s entry into Sabarimala, the CPM leader maintained that the matter was a “closed chapter.”

“The Supreme Court is still considering the petitions related to women’s entry in Sabarimala. There is nothing more to discuss now. For me, it is a closed chapter,” he asserted.

The CPM-led LDF government has come under fire after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the Global Ayyappa Sangamam. Both the Congress and the BJP accused the government of trying to exploit the Sabarimala issue for political gains ahead of the upcoming local body and assembly elections. The BJP further alleged that the CPM was politicising the event by inviting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.

Amid the criticism, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) chairman PS Prasanth said the Ayyappa Sangamam aims to bring together Sabarimala pilgrims from across the globe. Only those who have visited the shrine for three consecutive years and those supporting the development of Sabarimala will be allowed to attend. Along with devotees, public representatives, spiritual leaders, and representatives of community organisations such as NSS and SNDP will also participate.

Rubbishing the allegations of political parties, the TDB chief clarified that the event is part of the board’s diamond jubilee celebrations. He added that expatriate devotees had urged the board to hold such a gathering to address their concerns regarding the pilgrimage. A master plan for Sabarimala’s development will also be presented at the Global Ayyappa Sangamam.