KOCHI: AICC general secretary and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Sunday that nobody will agree with BJP national president Amit Shah’s statement that the party will “uproot the state government if it continues to suppress Ayyappa devotees”.
“An elected government should be pulled down only in a democratic way,” he said. Instead of resolving the Sabarimala issue in an easy manner, both the state and Central governments have made matters worse, he said.
“If the state government does not file a review petition against the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple, the Union government should have issued an ordinance,” he said.
“Everyone expected Shah to make a statement on the ordinance to be issued by the Union government. However, he only added fuel to the fire,” he said.
He said the police can arrest those involved in inciting violence related to Sabarimala protests. “However, the Congress will start an agitation if they arrest devotees,” he said.
UDF convener Benny Behanan echoed Chandy’s views. “Amit Shah’s statements are anti-democratic. The Centre can issue an ordinance if they wish to resolve the Sabarimala issue. Instead of doing this, the national chief of the BJP is threatening the people,” he said.