Thiruvananthapuram: Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran has said more young women than the media has noticed had probably worshipped at the sannidhanam.
When women come in such large numbers, it is absolutely probable that more young women worshipped at Sabarimala. “You are aware of the accounts of visits that the media has brought out. But that’s not everything,” Mr Surendran said.
Government sources told this newspaper that more women had trekked the hill and had darshan of Lord Ayyappa. The government has all the details about the women which is kept under wraps lest their disclosure should harm the women. Some 31 women had tried to worship and all but the Lankan woman had to face the anger of the right wing elements. The Lankan escaped because she doesn’t have assets here. All the rest have come under attack. The government was holding back information on the actual number of young women who entered the sanctum to ensure their safety, sources said.
The devaswom minister changed his earlier stand that activists should not enter Sabariamala temple during the mandala makaravilakku season.
He said the two women Bindu and Kanakadurga had stated that they came to have darshan due their belief in Ayyappa. Even the Sri Lankan woman said she had observed 41 day penance before coming to Sabarimala and she had even carried a doctor’s certificate.
Mr Surendran said that believers can definitely come to the temple irrespective of whether they are workers or activists. “If you are referring to my previous statement then what I meant was that Sabarimala should not be used as a place to proclaim victory,” he said.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had earlier rejected the minister’s statement that young women need not visit Sabarimala during Mandala Makaravilakku season.
“No minister should make such statements,” he said. Mr Kodiyeri had stated that both the minister and devaswom board president should change their stand. Their position is not acceptable to CPM.
