KL-SABARIMALA-RAM
- Country:
- India
'Those who feted womens' entry into Shani Shingnapur shrine
now against their entry to Sabarimala'
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 13 (PTI): Noted Journalist N Ram
Tuesday said those who celebrated the entry of women into the
Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra were now against
allowing women of all ages at the Lord Ayyappa hill shrine at
Sabarimala.
The state, which recently witnessed a string of protests
on the entry of women of all ages at Sabarimala, should oppose
the "toxic political elements" dividing them, he said.
Kerala, "one of the most progressive states" in the
country, was "now being tested", he said and urged the people
to prove their "mettle".
Ram was speaking at an event titiled 'We the people
#With_our_Constitution', organised by a collective of over 50
organisations, including Mumbai-based 'Humans' and Purogamana
Kala Sahitya Sangham (Progressive Arts and Literary
Organisation), also known as the PuKaSa, an Association for
Art and Letters.
"The same elements which celebrated the entry of women
into the Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra are now
objecting to the entry of women in Sabarimala," Ram said.
"People are being divided by toxic political elements.
This issue is for all of India," he said.
Alleging that there are attempts to tamper with the
Constitution, he said he was glad that people had recognised
what was at stake.
"It is not just a single isolated issue. The Constitution
itself is at stake," he said.
"We have a secular constitution, unlike most other
countries. This is an occasion for Kerala to prove its mettle.
The silent majority must assert a position and oppose the
rouge elements creating violence in Sabarimala," he said.
Indu Abhayan, an organiser of the event, said that those
opposing the apex court veridict claim that they are the voice
of Kerala.
"We want to prove them wrong. We have seen that women are
on the streets, opposing the Supreme Court verdict on
Sabarimala. That is not the voice of Kerala. We wanted to show
that there are other women, people who are with the
Constitution," Abhayan said.
The Central stadium auditorium, where the function
washeld, was filled with people from all walks of life.
A group of women from the Mala Araya community, which
had earlier claimed that their rights to offer prayers at the
Sabarimala temple was taken away from them, were also present.
Anoop Rajendran, a lawyer, who came to attend the event
despite bad health, said he was interested in the event as it
was the need of the hour.
"Our state is a progressive society. We used to respect
the Constitution, but after the apex court verdict, many have
come out opposing the decision and calling for open violation
of the Constitution and the rule of law.This is not right," he
said.
Harikrishnan,a college student, said certain elements
were trying to exploit the situation.
"Certain political elements are trying to exploit the
situation. At first they all welcomed the Supreme Court
verdict. Then they decided to oppose it in the name of belief.
This is purely against the Constitution," he said.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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- Harikrishnan
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