File photo

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan dared BJP and Congress to approach the SC with a review petition if their protests against entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 years into the Sabarimala temple are“sincere”.

Asking both parties not to create violence at Sabarimala, Vijayan went on to ridicule the stand taken by Congress and alleged that the party was playing second fiddle to BJP.

“Congress should remember that they will lose their position in state if they are going to support the stand taken by Sangh Parivar ,” he said. The tanthri cannot decide on opening or shutting down of the temple since he has no authority, said Vijayan.

The chief tanthri (priest) of the holy shrine threatened to close the temple if women were allowed darshan.

The CM also pointed out that the legal custodian of Sabarimala is the Travancore Devaswom Board and tanthri or erstwhile royal family of Pandalam only have the authority to conduct rituals and pujas.

