KOTTAYAM: Widening the divide between the LDF Government and the Nair Service Society (NSS) over women’s entry issue in Sabarimala, the NSS leadership has come out against the government stating the police action on devotees is equivalent to the Emergency.
In a press release here on Friday, NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair said the state government’s stance against devotees, who wanted to maintain the centuries-old faith and custom in Sabarimala, was unscrupulous and anti-democratic.
“The Chief Minister and other ministers are disgracing and slandering the heirs of Pandalam royal family and Sabarimala thantris in a cheap language, which hurts millions of devotees. This kind of action should not have come from a democratic government,” he said.
The NSS also turned down the Chief Minister’s claim the government was only implementing the Supreme Court verdict permitting women of all ages to offer prayers at Sabarimala temple. “While the government is bound to uphold the Constitutional right of protecting faith and custom, it was not ready to file a review petition or report to the court about the situation prevailing here. Moreover, the government is not permitting the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to do so,” Sukumaran Nair alleged.
“NSS doesn’t have any political agenda behind supporting devotees. We would respond legally and peacefully on the issue,” Sukumaran Nair said.
“The NSS’ flag-day falls on October 31. After hoisting the flag in each Karayogams, we would offer special pujas in associated temples as well as organise prayer meetings to protect faith in front of the picture of Lord Ayyappa, to be placed before a lighted lamp,” he added.