BJP challenging the Constitution on Sabarimala issue: CPI(M)

Accusing the BJP of challenging the Constitution on the Sabarimala issue, ruling CPI(M) Friday said people of Kerala would "isolate" the saffron party, which has launched an agitation against the Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups into the Lord Ayyappa temple.

"BJP is trying to utilise Sabarimala for their political interests," CPI(M) state secretariat member P Rajeev said, a day after BJP and various Hindu outfits decided to intensify protests against the Left government's move to implement the apex court order.

"They are challenging the Constitution and the apex court of the country. But the people of Kerala will isolate them", he said.

BJP had yesterday alleged that the CPI(M), armed with the verdict, was trying to persuade its women cadres to visit the shrine to break its centuries' old customs when the temple doors open for the pilgrimage season commencing this month.

BJP's state unit chief P S Sreedharan Pillai had also accused the state government of trying to "destroy the uniqueness" of the shrine, where customs prevent women in the age group of 10 and 50 from offering prayers.

Meanwhile, Nair Service Society (NSS), an outfit of Kerala's influential Nair community, Friday came down heavily on the LDF government over the issue, accusing it of trying to divide Hindu society, which is on the path of agitation against the government's decision to implement the apex court order.

NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair said that in the midst of the united fight over the Sabarimala issue, the government introduced certain rules to provide 10 per cent reservation for forward communities and 40 per cent for SC/ST and backward communities in providing jobs in Devaswom Boards.

"The new reservation rules were introduced with the aim of dividing Hindus as the government knows very well that there are certain issues between various communities over the reservation policy," Nair said in a statement.

He said protecting the customs and faith of the Sabarimala temple was more important for the NSS than implementing reservation in Devaswom Board jobs.

Kerala had witnessed widespread protests by devotees after the state government made it clear that it was bound to implement the top court's verdict on entry of women of all ages into the shrine.

The shrine had witnessed high drama after around a dozen women in the 10-50 age group were prevented by protesting devotees from entering it after the temple doors were opened for monthly pujas between October 17 and 22.