The protests are pervasive across Kerala and rest of the southern part of the country after SC’s verdict on Sabarimala Temple case and the Communist government’s callous attitude towards the devotees of Bhagwan Ayyappa. The protest against the oppressive communist regime of Kerala is gaining momentum across the country especially after the two women, Bindu, 44, a CPI (ML) activist and Kanakadurga, defying the customs and traditions of temple, surreptitiously entered the shrine. It was clearly not an act of devotion but that of desecration.
For more details: The surreptitious entry of CPIM activist in Sabarimala is an act of desecration not devotion
Devotees of Bhagwan Ayyappa observed BLACK DAY in Kerala after the entry of two women inside the temple. In order to express their support for the “Black Day”, the Congress MPs from the state planned to wear black armbands in the Lower House of the Parliament as a mark of protest against Pinarayi Vijayan led Communist government of the state. However, their plan was spoiled by their former President of the Congress party Sonia Gandhi even before its execution.
According to Indian Express report, as soon as Sonia Gandhi saw one of the MPs distributing the bands, she told them not to do so. The Indian Express quoted a source stating, “She told the MPs that they could continue their protests in Kerala as part of their local politics. But at the national level, the MPs should not protest against women entering the temple, because it would go against what the Congress stands for — gender equality and women rights.”
The diktat issued by Sonia Gandhi exposes the double standards of the Congress party. On the question of women’s entry inside the Sabarimala temple, the Congress party has taken contradictory stances. On the national level, the party is supporting the women’s right to entry inside the famous Sabarimala temple in order to portray itself as the crusader of gender justice. While on the other hand, in Kerala, the Congress party has extended its full support to the devotees of Bhagwan Ayyappa who are protesting against the SC’s verdict on the Sabarimala Temple case and the oppressive measures adopted by the ruling government of the state to impose the apex court’s decision against the wishes of devotees.
According to an Indian Express report, the Congress party’s Kerala chief and Lok Sabha MP Mullappally Ramachandran has alleged that the entry of the two women inside the shrine was “an operation meticulously planned and executed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan” whom he accused of “trying to “divide the Hindu vote bank by sending the upper castes to the BJP fold.”
At the national level, a few months ago the Congress President Rahul Gandhi was supporting SC’s verdict allowing the entry of women of all ages inside the Sabarimala Temple. He had said, “My personal view point is that all men and women are equal. All women should get permission to enter into the temple. My party represents the emotions of people of Kerala.”
The devotees of Sabarimala temple are already feeling cheated by the communist government of Kerala “by their heinous and deceitful and cowardice action of bringing two anti-social activists to violate the rituals and traditions of holy Sabarimala temple, against the wishes of Lord Ayyappa and deep-rooted belief of devotees.” While the Communist government is clearly hell-bent on undermining the sentiments of the Hindus, the Congress’ ambiguous stance on the Sabarimala issue reeks of political opportunism.