Sabarimala: Congress, BJP walk out of all-party meet

Kerala CM reiterates that the government is duty-bound to implement the SC order

Pinarayi Vijayan Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, with other leaders, at the all-party meet | Onmanorama

Both the opposition Congress and the BJP walked out of the all-party meeting called to discuss various issues related to the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala, which witnessed widespread protests after the Supreme Court allowed women of all ages into the shrine, on Thursday.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said the government did not listen to the UDF's suggestions on the issue. The government was adamant and stuck to its earlier stand on women's entry, he alleged.

BJP Kerala president Sreedharan Pillai said that the all-party meet was a 'sheer waste of time.'

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan addressed the media after the meet. The CM reiterated that the government is duty-bound to implement the SC order.

The LDF government called the meeting after the apex court refused to stay its September 28 verdict, lifting the centuries-old ban on girls and women in the 10-50 age group from entering the shrine and decided to hear a batch of review petitions in open court on January 22.

The two-month long annual 'Mandala Makkaravillakku' season will start on Saturday.

The temple had witnessed a string of protests from devotees when it opened for monthly pujas for five days in October and two days early this month.

Over 3,700 people have been arrested so far and 546 cases registered against various people for violence during protests across the state 

after the top court permitted women of all ages to pray at the temple.

Meanwhile, over 800 young women have registered for darshan in the online queue website of Kerala police last week.