Thrissur (Kerala), Sep 2 (PTI) Kerala's ruling CPI(M) said on Tuesday it remains aligned with religious devotees, declaring the contentious issue of allowing women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala temple a "closed matter".
CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan, while speaking to reporters, said the Global Ayyappa Samgamam, being organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), is in accordance with the interests of Ayyappa devotees across the world.
The Global Ayyappa Sangamam is being organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board, as part of its 75th anniversary, in association with the Kerala government, on September 20 at Pampa.
The TDB president had said that the event is organised after considering the demand of people from various parts of the world, Govindan said.
The proposed initiative has received the recognition of the country and devotees of Lord Ayyappa, the Left leader said.
He said communalism is the usage of religion and belief to attain political power. "Such communalist people are opposing initiatives like Ayyappa Samgamam. Not the believers. Communalists are the ones who use religion as a tool," Govindan said.
He was replying to questions regarding criticism by political opponents against the September 20 event.
"The CPI(M) does not want to be with the propaganda unleashed by such communalists. We are with the believers -- both the CPI(M) and the LDF government," the Left leader further said.
When reporters asked about the issue of entry of women in the menstruating age group in Sabarimala, Govindan said he does not want to make any comment on that.
"It was a court verdict and subsequent issues. It is a closed chapter. There is no need to talk about it at present. I am not going to say anything about it now," he said.
The senior leader further said the CPI(M) has never taken a stand against belief or believers.
"We have not taken any such decision (against believers)....We are not taking...and we will not take," the leader added.
The CPI(M) state secretary's remarks came a day after Travancore Devaswom Board president P S Prasanth said that the temple body would try to convince the Supreme Court about the rituals and customs of the Sabarimala shrine.
Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan refused to meet Prasanth when he visited his official residence here to invite him for the Ayyappa Samgamam.
The TDB had earlier announced that the LoP was made one of the three patrons of the September 20 event in which Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was the chief patron.
"I handed over the invitation to LoP's private secretary at the Cantonment House," Prasanth told the media.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the Congress-led UDF, on Tuesday evening, carried out an online meeting to take a collective stand on the Ayyappa Samgamam.
UDF sources said Satheesan may announce the front's decision in this regard on Wednesday.
In 2018, the Supreme Court lifted the ban on women of menstruating age entering the Sabarimala temple, ruling the restriction "unconstitutional".
The verdict triggered widespread protests and remains under review by a larger bench.
The CPI(M) and the LDF government had come under severe attack from a section of Ayyappa devotees and Sangh Parivar for facilitating the entry of two women of menstruating age into the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.