The BJP government at the Centre also took a similar stand in Parliament, says Pinarayi Vijayan

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that a legislation preventing women’s entry at Sabarimala temple, bypassing the Supreme Court judgment, is impossible, as the judgment deals with the issue as one regarding fundamental rights.

Replying to a question raised in the Assembly by the opposition UDF on the Government’s stand on the issue in view of the upcoming Sabarimala review petitions in the Supreme Court, he pointed out that the BJP Government at the Centre also had made this clear in the Parliament, although the party was at the forefront of the protests against women entry.

“Those who had initially taken a stand in support of the judgment later reversed it and created tension to draw political dividends from it. The stand taken by the BJP and the Congress regarding a bill to bypass the SC judgment was meant to deceive the devotees. They always knew that it is impossible to introduce such a bill. The LDF Government had made this clear back then itself. The legal opinion the Government got was also along this line. It is not right to compare this with the Tamil Nadu Government’s bill to bypass the judgment on Jallikattu, as this deals with an issue of fundamental rights,” he said.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the Government has always atood for the interests of the devotees.

“The Government does not work for any particilar section. We have always taken a stand in support of the devotees. But, when one section of devotees attack another section of devotees, the Government had to step in to protect the victims of the attack,” said Mr. Vijayan.

The Government will, as in the previous years, take all steps to ensure law and order at Sabarimala during the pilgrimage season, he said.