Kerala: Mixed response to SC Sabarimala verdict

Political parties and Hindu outfits in Kerala have given mixed reaction to the Supreme Court on Thursday deciding to set up a larger bench to reexamine religious issues including those arising out of its 2018 verdict that lifted a centuries-old ban on women of menstruating age visiting the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.

While leaders of the ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala said the rule of law should prevail and last year's SC verdict respected, the main opposition party in the state, the Congress-led United Democratic Front, claimed the judgement was its victory as the apex court did not reject its petition challenging women's (aged 10-50) entry.

CPI (M) politburo member Brinda Karat, whose party is leading the LDF in Kerala, told PTI, "Our stand is clear that the women should have their right to equality in religious, social and political spheres. We stand on our principles that they should enjoy their rights in public places including temples."