Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 16 – The issue of women's entry into Sabarimala returned to the forefront as a key election issue in Kerala, with opposition parties demanding clarity from the Left government on Monday, which had previously supported the move and sparked widespread protests.
The issue gained renewed attention after the Supreme Court reopened the case on Monday, announcing that a nine-judge bench would hear petitions regarding discrimination against women in religious and places of worship, including the Sabarimala temple.
Under pressure from prominent Hindu caste organizations and the opposition Congress and BJP, the Left government said the Sabarimala women's entry issue involved several constitutional complexities and that a decision would be taken after consultations.
The opposition urged the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government to immediately submit a revised affidavit to the Supreme Court.
Clarifying the government's position, state Law Minister P Rajeev said it was not a matter that could be reduced to a simple "yes or no" answer, and even the Supreme Court made it clear that it would only consider the review petitions after addressing seven constitutional questions.
"This is not a situation where a simple 'yes or no' can be stated. Several constitutional complexities are involved. All aspects need to be considered," he told reporters, adding that the state government has enough time to inform its position.
He, however, said the government is committed to protecting the faith of believers and would stand by them regardless.
He reiterated that faith and social reform must go hand in hand, and that this had been the government's position in its earlier affidavit.
Rajeev said the state government, in its earlier affidavit, had suggested constituting a commission of scholars with deep knowledge of Hindu beliefs and with a record in social reformation to study the women's entry issue, but the apex court didn't consider it.
However, the government stands by its suggestions, he added.
The minister maintained that the government had acted in accordance with the SC verdict on the issue.
"It was not a government order but the supreme court verdict. The apex court verdict is naturally binding. The same supreme court had later decided to review it. Even then, the earlier verdict has not been stayed," Rajeev said.
The government did not take any adamant stand after that, the minister said, referring to the issue that triggered massive protests by Hindu outfits and opposition parties in 2018 after the Left government attempted to implement the Supreme Court verdict allowing the entry of women of menstrual age into the revered Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala.
"We will present a good stand before the supreme court after examining the constitutional aspects. We have ample time," he said, adding that a stand would be taken after examining all aspects in detail.
However, the major opposition parties-the Congress and BJP urged the CPI(M)-led government to make its stand clear on the matter, with the grand old party calling on it to file a revised affidavit in the top court on the matter.
Seeking to corner the Left government, senior Congress leader V D Satheesan said the Pinarayi Vijayan-led dispensation should be prepared to "correct" the affidavit it had filed earlier in connection with the matter.
The Leader of Opposition in the assembly alleged that several organisations were invited to the Global Ayyappa Sangamam after being misled with assurances that the government would change its stand on the women's entry into Sabarimala temple.
Addressing reporters in Palakkad, he said if the affidavit was not revised, the government's duplicity would be exposed.
Satheesan accused the government of adopting a "confused approach" and lacking a clear or firm stand on the issue, while simultaneously seeking the votes of Ayyappa devotees.
"How many hours of discussion are required to state that the earlier stand is being changed in view of changed social circumstances? Just 10 minutes are needed to file an affidavit," he said.
At the same time, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged that the state government had taken U-turns on several issues in the past and might do the same on the women's entry issue also.
The government can do anything keeping the elections in mind, he alleged.
Chandrasekhar also said there is no change in the party's earlier stand on the issue.
Meanwhile, the state's two major Hindu caste outfits -- the NSS and the SNDP Yogam -- on Monday reiterated that women of menstruating age should not be allowed entry into the Sabarimala temple, as the Supreme Court considered review petitions in the matter.
Nair Service Society (NSS) general secretary G Sukumaran Nair said the organisation has not changed its stand against the entry of women of menstruating age at Sabarimala.
Nair said he expects the state government to change its position.
Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan said it was not appropriate to allow an entry practice that did not exist at the Sabarimala temple earlier.
Natesan recalled that widespread protests had erupted in the state following the earlier Supreme Court verdict.
