Thiruvananthapuram: Joy as sun sets on discrimination

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF can claim moral victory for the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages in Sabarimala shrine. The affidavit filed by the state government during V S Achuthanandan tenure in 2006-11 in many ways  formed the basis for apex court’s historic judgement on Friday. All along LDF had maintained a consistent stand on the issue, backing the entry of women. But considering the sensitive nature of the matter it called for consensus.

After Pinarayi Vijayan Government came to power in 2016, devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran revived efforts to evolve a broader understanding by holding discussions with stake holders.  

The LDF questioned the reasons being cited to prevent the entry of women and campaigned that at a time when women were attaining laudable achievements in all spheres of society was it fair to impose such restrictions.

As PWD minister G Sudhkaran who held the devaswom portfolio when the affidavit was filed in SC asked; “How can a progressive Left government say women cannot be allowed? How can we go against social justice, independence of women and men, freedom of conscience? As for toughness, how can one forget Velen-tina Tereshkova who was the first woman astronaut to have flown in space ?

The minister even referred to changes that had taken place in Sabarimala during the past 50 years. Earlier Malik-apuram was not worship-ped but now she is, sarpa kulam and pathra kulam have been modified, thulabharam introduced. kodiy-ettam, apdipooja were not there, all came later.

While the LDF took a proactive stand, the Oommen Chandy regime had refused to interfere with the conventions at Sabarimala shrine. “The government will not intervene in such matters just as it does not interfere with Christian and Muslim places of worship,” he had pointed out.

Both the Congress and BJP continue to have a vacillating stand on the issue. But LDF leaders’ believe that change is inevitable as they cite Kumaran Asan’s verses. “mattuvin chattangale ! allenkil ava mattum, ningalethan ! (Reform, change the rules! Else those very rules will be your downfall !