Sabarimala: Kerala Govt Trying To Fool People, Says V Muraleedharan

(MENAFN- AsiaNet News)

Political Backlash Over Sabarimala Stance

BJP leader V Muraleedharan accused the Kerala government of attempting to mislead the public on the Sabarimala temple issue, alleging that the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is trying to create a false impression of changing its stance ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Speaking to ANI here, Muraleedharan stated that the state government was trying to portray that it was reversing its position on allowing young women into the Sabarimala temple, while in reality, it was avoiding a clear stance.

“They (the state government) are trying to give the impression that they are taking a U-turn. In fact, they are trying to fool the people by not taking a firm stand and giving the impression that they are changing their position,” Muraleedharan said.

He further alleged that the move was politically motivated and aimed at influencing voters. “This is an effort to deceive the people, to fool the people because there is an election. They want to create an impression among the common man, among the devotees, that the government is not against the believers. But at the same time, they are not changing their party’s stance,” he added.

The remarks come amid renewed political debate over the Sabarimala temple issue, with several parties accusing the LDF government of shifting its stance on allowing women of menstruating age into the shrine. Earlier, Congress MP K Suresh also criticized the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, alleging that the LDF’s change in position was an attempt to appease voters ahead of the Assembly elections. He pointed out that the CPI(M)-led government had previously supported the entry of young women into the temple through affidavits submitted to the Supreme Court.

Background of the Controversy

The controversy dates back to the 2018 Supreme Court verdict that allowed women aged between 10 and 50 years to enter the Sabarimala temple, ruling that the traditional restriction violated Article 25(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion. The verdict triggered widespread protests across Kerala, with several Hindu organizations and devotees opposing the decision.

The issue remains politically sensitive in the state as a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court is scheduled to begin hearing the review of the verdict on April 7. (ANI)

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