Women’s entry: Supreme Court to consider Sabarimala review pleas today; Oppn asks govt to clarify position

Kochi/T'puram: With the Supreme Court scheduled to consider the review and writ petitions related to its 2018 verdict permitting the entry of women of all ages into the Lord Ayyappa temple on Monday, the issue has sparked a political debate in the state after a brief hiatus.Opposition leader V D Satheesan urged chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to clarify whether the govt was willing to replace the affidavit it submitted before the apex court with a new one. Satheesan told reporters in Kochi on Sunday that the govt should clarify its stance.The first Pinarayi govt took a strong stance in favour of women's entry into Sabarimala but it went back on it following intense protests, Satheesan said. "They held a Global Ayyappa Sangamam and announced their withdrawal from all related matters. Now, as the apex court is considering the case, the govt has submitted an affidavit supporting women's entry. They can't play hidden games; the stance must be clear," Satheesan said.AICC general secretary K C Venugopal also said the state govt should revise its affidavit in the Sabarimala matter and that there was no need for any reconsideration within the party. He claimed that the entire state of Kerala was demanding such a step and questioned how the govt could backtrack.The ruling CPM, meanwhile, said it could not disclose what the govt would submit in court.CPM state secretary M V Govindan said there was no cause for concern and added that the dignity of democracy and the interests of devotees should be upheld."The party will state its position when required. Tomorrow, it's the govt that has to speak and it will do so," he told reporters in Palakkad.When asked whether the CPM would change its stand on the Sabarimala women's entry issue, Govindan said nothing was unchangeable but refrained from giving a clear reply.In Thrissur, CPM politburo member A Vijayaraghavan said a consensus needs to be evolved on the issue, taking into account both the interests of devotees and legal considerations. He said the matter was complex.Another senior CPM leader and state law minister P Rajeeve accused Satheesan and a section of the media of showing undue haste. He said the govt's stand could not be decided in a hurry and would be clarified after the review bench is constituted.He added that it is for the new bench to decide whether the government's explanation is required and said that it is not the govt's stand that is currently under review."Why this unprecedented haste? Let the Supreme Court decide which bench will consider the matter — whether the Constitution bench will hear the pleas or a new bench will be formed," he told reporters in Kochi.Nair Service Society (NSS), which had adopted a strong stand against the entry of young women into Sabarimala, also clarified its position."The govt should take whatever measures are needed to maintain the traditional customs and rituals at Sabarimala. If a revised affidavit needs to be submitted in this regard, it should be done," said NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair.The LDF govt 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 Sabarimala temple. (With inputs from agencies)