Sabrimala issue: All party meet fails, Opposition parties walk out

The Congress-led UDF and the BJP on Thursday, November 15, walked out of the all-party meeting called by the state government to resolve the Sabarimala stand-off emanating from the Supreme Court ruling allowing women of all ages to enter the shrine. The Sabarimala season will begin on Friday, November 16.

“Big flop”, said BJP’s state president PS Sreedharan Pillai after walking out. “We wasted more than two hours,” he said, claiming insincerity by the Left-led government.

After the meeting, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said, “Supreme Court clearly says that the September 28 verdict stands. It means that the entry of women should be allowed. Govt cannot take any stand against this verdict. We respect the feelings of the devotees. We are bound to implement court verdict.”

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said, “The adamant posture led to failure of talks. The government wasted a golden opportunity.”

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is going to reach out to Sabarimala temple’s chief priest’s family and the erstwhile royal family of Pandalam, considered to be the custodians of the famous temple.

CM Pinarayi Vijayan on November 9 accused both BJP and RSS of conspiring to create trouble at Sabarimala. “The odious politics and perfidious ways of the BJP stand exposed. Evidence has surfaced that BJP leaders in the state connived to create trouble,” said Vijayan.

Women between the age of 10 and 50 were restricted from entering the over 800-year-old shrine in south Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district because its presiding deity, Lord Ayyappa, is considered to be a celibate.

The shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa has been at the centre of high drama and tension following the top court order, with women trying to enter the shrine and the protesters bent upon blocking them.