THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Sabarimala women entry row which started with LDF on one side and the opposition parties on the opposite side have taken a new turn after the meeting of renaissance organizations called on by the CM. It even resulted in a face-off between the CM Pinarayi and the opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.

As the CM says that Chennithala has insulted renaissance organizations and values, Chennithala denies it. BJP on the other hand is protesting in light of the arrests of their leaders. The state government is without a single care about all these protests as they stand firmly with SC verdict. They have approached the SC against the intervention of HC in the matter.

Sabarimala row has paved the way for different political tactics from parties in light of Loksabha elections. The prospect of securing the Hindu vote bank is driving both BJP and Congress. LDF is hopeful of a split of Hindu votes between the opposition parties and making moves accordingly.

The secular face of Congress didn’t allow them to take an extremist like BJP on the Sabarimala issue. Instead they started protests in the Legislative Assembly hall with the support of their ally groups including the Muslim league. They also made the lack of facilities and police restrictions in Sabarimala their prime concern instead of women entry. All these political plans are to stop BJP from gaining an upper hand. The state government is trying to secure neutral votes by bringing Babri Masjid into these discussions.

BJP had to change their agenda after the government started targeting only the leaders of the party. P.S. Sreedharan Pillai’s statements didn’t help them either. The party had to change their subject from protest against women entry to protest against police atrocities and communist government.

At this juncture, the state government called on a meeting for renaissance organizations which aimed for the support of backward and Dalit communities. This has become the subject of new controversy in Kerala politics.

Chennithala insulted renasissance organizations: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Chennithala’s statement calling renaissance organizations as caste organizations is unfortunate, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in press meet.

“An opposition leader shouldn’t have made such an opinion. He has crossed all the limits of basic manners by saying that the Chief Minister glorifies the worthless. That shows the respect he has for the renaissance organizations. It will be good to know whether other parties and leaders of UDF share the same opinion. The renaissance meet was called at a juncture when the values of renaissance was widely questioned. We haven’t avoided any organization. Most of them came. I do not under value the absentees. The opposition leader not only disrespected the organizations but also their founders and values. The RSS and Congress share the same idea. This inhumane mentality must have led the opposition to call the renaissance organizations as caste organizations”, Pinarayi Vijayan said.