Kerala's ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) said on Tuesday that it remains on the side of religious devotees, declaring the contentious issue of allowing women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala temple a closed matter.
MV Govindan, the CPI(M) state secretary, told reporters that the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, an event organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), aligns with the interests of Ayyappa devotees worldwide. The TDB president had already clarified that the event was organised in response to requests from people in various parts of the world.
Govindan said that the proposed initiative has received recognition from the country and from followers of Lord Ayyappa. He defined communalism as the use of religion and belief to gain political power. "Such communalist people are opposing initiatives like Ayyappa Sangamam. Not the believers. Communalists are the ones who use religion as a tool," he said, in response to questions about criticism from political opponents regarding the event on 20 September.
"The CPI(M) does not want to be associated with the propaganda unleashed by such communalists. We are with the believers — both the CPI(M) and the LDF government," the Left leader said.
When journalists asked about the issue of women of menstruating age entering Sabarimala, Govindan declined to comment. "It was a court verdict and subsequent issues. It is a closed chapter. There is no need to talk about it at present. I am not going to say anything about it now," he said.
The senior leader further stated that the CPI(M) has never taken a stand against belief or believers. "We have not taken any such decision (against believers)... We are not taking one... and we will not take one," he added.
The CPI(M) state secretary's remarks came a day after Travancore Devaswom Board president P.S. Prasanth said the temple body would try to convince the Supreme Court about the rituals and customs of the Sabarimala shrine. "Everybody knows about the rituals and customs of Sabarimala. We will try to convince the Supreme Court about this. We have to consult with legal experts, and we will do whatever we can in this regard," Prasanth had said in response to a query, adding that the board would seek legal advice before making its submissions.
In 2018, the Supreme Court lifted the ban on women of menstruating age entering the Sabarimala temple, ruling the restriction "unconstitutional." The verdict triggered widespread protests and is currently under review by a larger bench.
The CPI(M) and the LDF government had faced severe criticism from a section of Ayyappa devotees and the Sangh Parivar for facilitating the entry of two women of menstruating age into the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.
The Global Ayyappa Sangamam is being organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board, in association with the Kerala government, on 20 September at Pampa as part of its 75th anniversary.
Also read: Kerala BJP to TDB: Reverse stance on women's entry in Sabarimala
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