Sabarimala Karma Samiti, Sangh Parivar groups to protest against TDB

Protest by Sabarimala Karma Samithi at Angadippuram in Malappuram | Sameer A. Hameed (File) A protest by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi at Angadippuram in Malappuram | Sameer A. Hameed

The Sabarimala Karma Samiti and Sangh Parivar outfits are set to intensify protests over the Sabarimala issue in the coming days. The rightwing outfits decided to intensify protests after the Kerala government on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to trash review pleas on women's entry into the hill shrine.

Contrary to its earlier stance, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) too backed entry of women of all age groups to Sabarimala.

The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions that sought a review of the September 28, 2018, judgement, which allowed women of all age groups to enter Sabarimala. The protests that targeted the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government will now focus on the Travancore Devaswom Board too.

The rightwing outfits will woo a large section of people among the Hindu community, who believe the TDB cheated them by changing its stance in the Supreme Court over the issue of women’s entry. The perception among a large number of believers is that the TDB, which is supposed to protect temples and its customs, is trying to sabotage them.

This will be the focus of the attack by the Samiti and Sangh Parivar groups in the coming days. The demand to cede control of temples to devotees from Devaswom boards will get stronger. Though the RSS and BJP did not initially raise objections to the entry of young women to Sabarimala, they changed their stance after considering the opinion of devotees.

Kerala had witnessed widespread protests after the LDF government decided to implement the Supreme Court's landmark verdict. Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing for the state government, said on Wednesday a constitutional court should not worry about law and order problems and 'social disturbances'.

A BJP meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram decided to strengthen election campaigns focusing on the Sabarimala issue. Protests including prayer marches that happened before the Mandalam season will be conducted.

Whatever may be the outcome of the review petitions on the Sabarimala verdict in the Supreme Court, the BJP will come hard at the Pinarayi Vijayan government and the board over the issue, highlighting it in the run-up to the elections.

Protest day

The Sabarimala Karma Samiti will observe a protest day on Friday, alleging deception by the Vijayan government and TDB. Events involving devotees will be held in every panchayat, general convener S.J.R. Kumar informed. However, they have not called for a hartal yet.

The Kerala High Court had on January 7 said no strike can be called in the state without a prior notice of at least seven days. The court said this while hearing a petition moved by the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a Thrissur-based NGO against hartals and shutdowns in the state.