CPI slams BJP president Shah on Sabarimala issue

The Communist Party of India (CPI) Monday slammed BJP president Amit Shah for "ridiculing" Supreme Court's verdict on Sabarimala temple, saying he had "incited" BJP workers to defy the verdict.

"BJP president Amit Shah has ridiculed the Supreme Court's judgment. His statement on Sabarimala temple verdict is atrocious and provocative", alleged D Raja, national secretary of CPI.

Escalating his attack on the Left dispensation, Shah Saturday alleged an "Emergency-like" situation prevails in Kerala with the state government "playing with fire" in quelling with "brutal force" protests by Ayyappa devotees over Sabarimala issue.

"You concentrate on developing the state rather than attacking the Ayyappa bhakts," the BJP president had said and warned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that he would have to pay a "heavy price" if this continues, as BJP workers "would not hesitate to pull down the government".

Till date, police have arrested over 3,000 persons across Kerala who took part in the Sabarimala agitation.

In a landmark verdict, the SC on September 28 lifted a ban that prevented women and girls between the age of ten and 50 from entering the famous Sabarimala temple in Kerala, stating that the century-old Hindu religious practice was illegal and unconstitutional.

Raja said that initially all political parties had welcomed the apex court's verdict but BJP at the state level started campaign against the SC's verdict on the temple issue.

"BJP has opposed Supreme Court's verdict on the Sabarimala temple entry issue. Later Congress took a peculiar position in the state", alleged Raja.

The CPI national secretary alleged the BJP president in his speech had vowed to topple the LDF government in Kerala if it continued to uphold the SC judgement.

This, he said was another display of the "anti-democratic, authoritarian attitude typical of Amit Shah."