Referring to the ongoing controversy over the entry of women into Sabarimala, BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday claimed courts should give judgements on contentious issues that could be practically implemented. The Supreme Court had, on September 28, ruled that women of all age groups should be allowed entry into the Sabarimala temple.
Shah was speaking at a rally in Kannur in Kerala where he had inaugurated a new BJP office. Shah said Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution guaranteed freedom of religious practice to individuals and groups. Alluding to the Supreme Court judgement on Sabarimala, Shah asked how one fundamental right could override another. Shah declared Hinduism gave a high status to women and argued there were temples across India that restricted entry only to women.
Shah warned the CPI(M) government in Kerala that its arrests of thousands of activists of groups linked to the BJP would “unite” Ayyappa devotees across the state. Shah warned the CPI(M) government was “playing with fire” by targeting Ayyappa devotees on the pretext of the Supreme Court judgement on Sabarimala.
Shah alleged the Pinarayi Vijayan government had used “brute force” to crack down on those who had opposed the entry of women into Sabarimala. He claimed BJP activists would shake the Vijayan government.
Shah also referred to the killings of the BJP activists in Kannur by CPI(M) supporters.
Earlier on Saturday, Shah, interestingly, became the first 'passenger' to arrive in the new Kannur airport, which is yet to be commissioned. Shah will also visit the homes of BJP activists who were killed in clashes in Kannur.
