'No U-turn, LDF govt always backed tradition'; Minister Vasavan on govt stance on Sabarimala women entry

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan once again clarified his stance regarding the 2018 Sabarimala women's entry verdict. The minister said that the government were always on the devotees’ side on the issue. The minister added that the petition regarding the entry of women into Sabarimala was filed in the Supreme Court by lawyers affiliated with BJP. He was speaking to the media about the state government's decision to inform the Supreme Court of its stance to protect the Sabarimala tradition.

“Decisions on matters related to temple entry should be taken by an expert committee comprising experts in ritual matters. The state government had informed the Supreme Court about this in an affidavit in 2007. The government has always taken a stand to protect the interests of the devotees. It cannot be said that the government has changed its stance on the entry of women into Sabarimala. The Supreme Court had been informed about this in 2007.

I agree with CPM State Secretary MV Govindan, who said that CPM have always been with devotees on the issue. Don't take what the opposition says at face value. Has there ever been an opposition in Kerala that has faced repeated setbacks in court?

It was the BJP that tried to get a verdict on the issue related to the entry of women into Sabarimala. Their lawyers took the case to the Supreme Court and got the verdict. A BJP-leaning newspaper in Kerala even wrote it as a historic verdict. But after a certain point, everything changed,” said VN Vasavan.