Sabarimala: Kerala CM says RSS made temple a war zone; SC to hear review plea on Nov 13

The Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday, October 23, that the Kerala government had implemented the Supreme Court’s verdict and the necessary facilities were provided to those going. But the RSS made the Sabarimala Temple area a ‘war zone’. There were no restrictions from the government.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, said in a statement, “Kerala government made it clear in front of the Supreme Court that it will implement the verdict. The govt arranged all facilities. Neither govt nor the police tried to block the devotees. RSS tried to make Sabarimala Temple a war zone.”

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it would hear on November 13 the petitions challenging its Sabarimala verdict allowing women of all age groups entry into the temple.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice SK Kaul told lawyer Mathews J Nedumpara that it has already passed an order with regard to listing of petitions on November 13.

Earlier the court had noted that there were 19 review petitions pending in the matter, filed by National Ayyappa Devotees Association and others seeking a review of its verdict.

A five-judge constitution bench by a ratio of 4:1 had held that women of all age groups should be allowed entry into Kerala's Sabarimala Temple. The Supreme Court had overturned a centuries-old practice that barred women of menstrual age (10-50 years) from entering the hill temple, where a celibate deity Lord Ayyappa is worshipped on September 28.

Meanwhile the brief pilgrimage season in Sabarimala however failed to make history as women in the 10-50 age group were still kept away by protests against their entry despite the Supreme Court order allowing women of all ages to pray at the Lord Ayyappa temple.

The sanctum sanctorum of the famed temple closed at 10 pm on Monday, October 22, a day that saw five women making an unsuccessful effort to pray at the hill temple, where tradition had barred women aged between 10 and 50.

Bindu, a woman from Kozhikode in Kerala, appeared before the police at Erumely, one of the entry points to the temple route, but the police refused permission to her after checking her antecedents.

After that she was put on a bus to Mundakayam but angry protesters literally took her out of the bus. Following the timely intervention of the police a crisis was averted.

Likewise at the Pamba entry point, four women from West Godavari district were stopped from going ahead as angry protesters got around them shouting Ayyappa slogans forcing them to retreat.

Kerala was on the edge, after the temple opened for its customary monthly pujas, the first time after the September 28, the Supreme Court verdict which overturned a centuries-old practice that barred women of menstrual age from entering the hill temple.

Celibate deity Lord Ayyappa is worshipped at the Sabarimala temple where on Monday, October 22, at 7pm the last pilgrim went up the hill.

None of the dozen women who tried to have a darshan in the last five days succeeded in entering the temple for prayers as thousands of devotees were determined not to allow them.

The police appeared most relieved for the time being as they had a tough time in trying to implement the apex court's orders in the face of strong protests which at times turned violent.

Given the present situation, they may have a tougher time when the temple again opens for its annual two-month-long pilgrimage season which begins on November 17.

(with inputs from agencies)