Even as the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala closed on Monday after the five-day monthly poojas, the state government seems to be in a dilemma over how to implement the Supreme Court order allowing women of all age groups to enter the hill shrine.
“The government is between the devil and the deep blue sea. On one hand, the Union home ministry has been exerting strong pressure on the state government to implement the verdict. On the other hand, the BJP, in the guise of devotees, is trying to create a riot,” said Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran.
The minister said a chance for consensus is unlikely as the protests by the BJP are aimed at the upcoming parliament elections.
He also welcomed the Travancore Devaswom Board's decision to submit a report of the current situation in the Supreme Court. TDB is the custodian of the Sabarimala temple.
Meanwhile, activist Rahul Easwar, who spearheaded the 'Save Sabarimala' campaign, was granted bail by a local court. Easwar, a leader of the Ayyappa Dharma Sena (ADS), has been on protest fast in jail since October 17, after the police arrested him from sannidhanam (the temple complex).
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Hundreds of devotees have camped at sannidhanam to prevent women of menstruating age from reaching the shrine. Though the temple will close on Monday, the real challenge in front of the state government now is the mandala pooja festival which begins mid-November.
On Monday, four more women en route Sabarimala were forced to return after intense protests. Bindu, a native of Kottayam, was on her way to Pampa, the base camp of the pilgrimage, when protesters blocked the state transport bus she was travelling in and asked her to return. She was later shifted to safety in a police jeep. Three women from Andhra Pradesh were also stopped by protesters as they started to trek the hill from Pampa.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will take up review petitions filed against its verdict on Tuesday. At least 19 petitions have been filed against the verdict, including those by the tantri (head priest) family and Ayyappa devotee outfits.
The Supreme Court, on September 28, overturned a centuries-old tradition barring women between 10 and 50 years from entering the temple in Pathanamthitta district. The verdict sparked off widespread protests across Kerala with thousands of devotees, mainly women, hitting the street. The protests and demonstrations were anchored on strong anti-CPI(M) sentiments. Both the Congress and the BJP have lent support to the agitation against the apex court verdict.
Nearly a dozen women have been turned back by angry protesters, since Sabarimala doors opened for a five-day pooja on October 17.
