Sabarimala verdict: Congress to up the ante with massive stir

He said the Supreme Court verdict lifting the age bar on women’s entry to the shrine was as per the government’s request.

KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran (File photo | PTI)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress has announced its plan to launch a massive agitation on the Sabarimala women’s entry issue. The move comes in the backdrop of a finding by the KPCC political affairs committee (PAC) the party’s activities on the issue did not reach the people in the desired manner.
In his media briefing on the PAC decisions, KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to shed his false pride and convene a special Assembly session to discuss the issue.

He said the Supreme Court verdict lifting the age bar on women’s entry to the shrine was as per the government’s request. The government also persuaded the Travancore Devaswom Board to file an affidavit in favour of its stand. He said Pinarayi Vijayan’s Facebook post branding the Sabarimala issue as a fight between the upper and lower castes amounted to inciting communal tensions. “Legal options will be explored to sue him,” he said.

“The police have failed in maintaining law and order at the shrine. The police escort for the activist who had earlier insulted the believers’ sentiments showed the failure of the police intelligence wing. The KPCC will also take legal recourse against the police officers who gave official gear to the activist,” he said.
The KPCC will conduct a statewide campaign against the government’s disregard to the believers’ sentiments and efforts by the BJP to create communalise the Sabarimala issue.

Four political campaign rallies will be taken out from Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Thrissur and Thodupuzha.The rallies will conclude in Pathanamthitta on November 15 on Makaravilakku day.