Alappuzha: Rahul Easwar, the president of the Ayyappa Dharma Sena, has come out in support of non-Brahmin priests at Sabarimala.
Mr Easwar, spearheading the agitation against Supreme Court verdict allowing all women to Sabarimala, said he had always held that position.
He was reacting to Wednesday's DC report on Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) rejecting the application of C.V. Vishnu Narayanan, an Ezhava priest, citing he's a non-Malayala Brahmin.
"In 2011 we had urged TDB publicly that applications of priests for Sabarimala should not be based on either caste or denomination," he told DC. "All who have earned skills in performing tantra shastra are qualified as priests at any temple. Now, the TDB has to take the step against caste discrimination."
But he suggests the resistance resolved through "a meaningful dialogue."
"I would be in the forefront in taking up the matter with all stakeholders of Sabarimala to resolve this matter," he said.
"I spoke to Vishnu Narayanan the other day and had offered him all support."
Meanwhile, interview for Sabarimala and Malikappuram chief priests for the upcoming Mandalam season was over on Saturday.
They would be decided by drawing lots later from the 57 Malayala Brahmin candidates for Malikappuram and 80 for Sabarimala.
Mr Narayanan, who received rejection memo earlier this week, however, submitted his dissent note to TDB on Thursday, citing the violation of his fundamental rights and Supreme Court verdicts.
Impervious to his request, the TDB went on interviewing only Malayala Brahmin priests on Friday and Saturday.
