KOCHI: Assuring that the Sabarimala Karma Samiti (SKS) will continue its fight to protect the age-old customs of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple, Samiti chairman Govinda Bharathan said if the worries of the Hindu community are not addressed, it will lead to a situation wherein the devotees will decide on the administration of temples.
“The state government intervened in Sabarimala issue with mala fide intention. The court did not direct the government to provide protection to young women who express willingness to visit the temple. The Devaswom Board, which is an autonomous body, is duty bound to protect the interests of believers. However, it acted like a political entity. This is in violation of the High Court order. The High Court has issued a direction to the government against the appointment of politicians in the Board,” he told a press conference here on Tuesday.
The Karma Samiti leaders will meet in Thrissur on Wednesday and take a call on the future course of action. Govinda Bharathan said the Samithi has decided to book cases against the police for human rights violations while attempting to foil the devotees’ protest at Sabarimala.
“The police personnel who lathi-charged the devotees didn’t wear badges displaying their names. We have filed an RTI application demanding the names of police officers who took part in the action,” he said.
“The police violated human rights while arresting Rahul Easwar and his grandmother. We will file thousands of cases against the police and activists who attempted to enter the hill shrine, in lower courts,” he said.
General convener S J R Kumar said the Samiti will oppose attempts to hurt the sentiments of Hindus. The Sabarimala issue has come as a wake-up call for the Hindus. People who act with such ulterior intentions will be wiped out from society, he said.
He said the police action against devotees who participated in the prayer protest at Nilakkal was intended to provoke the protesters and create communal tension so that the government can impose prohibitory orders. The plan was to create fear and dissuade devotees from visiting Sabarimala. It would have helped the government facilitate entry of young women,” said Kumar.
Alleging the government was conspiring to destroy Sabarimala, he said the Devaswom Board president and members, who acted against the interests of the devotees should resign.
Hindu Aikya Vedi state president K P Sasikala and Swami Ayyappadas also participated in the press conference.