Kochi: The state government informed the High Court on Tuesday that the case registered against BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pillai in connection with his controversial speech on the Sabarimala issue will not be withdrawn. The government informed its version while the court was considering the petition filed by Mr. Pillai to quash the case against him.
The government has informed the court that the speech of Mr. Pillai has prompted violence in the Sannidhanam and he is also engaged in a Rath Yatra to spread further panic amongst the people. Mr. Pillai was aiming at the prevention of the entry of women in Sabarimala temple as per the Supreme Court verdict. He also stated that a fight should be waged to prevent women in the age group of 10-50 to enter the temple. Two cases are registered for assaulting women at Pamba after the speech of Mr. Pillai.
The counsel for Mr. Pillai submitted that the police registered a case without hearing the speech as he made the speech in a private function. The counsel has also stated that there was no mass audience to hear the speech. The court observed that the issue is whether the complaint against Mr. Pillai is sustainable or not. The case has been posted for Thursday.
The BJP leader made the controversial remarks that the Sabarimala Tantri has called him to seek his advice before making a statement that he was considering to close down the temple if women were allowed to enter the temple. Mr. Pillai also said that the Sabarimala issue was a golden opportunity for BJP to make maximum political advantage. As the speech boiled into controversy he tried to wriggle out of it by saying that he was not sure whether Tantri called him or not.
