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Sabarimala Karma Samiti panel to work on new law

The core committee of the samiti which met here on Tuesday decided to prepare a plan of action for the purpose.

Kochi: The Sabarimala Karma Samiti has decided to provide documents and other materials to the central government to help it make a piece of legislation for the protection of faith at Sabarimala temple.

The core committee of the samiti which met here on Tuesday decided to prepare a plan of action for the purpose. The samiti will also launch a drive to allay the people’s doubts on the entry of women at Sabarimala.

The samiti leaders said that they wanted a comprehensive law detailing how rituals should be reformed with the faithful having the final say. The Supreme Court verdict not only interferes in the rights and powers of the deity, but also declares places of worship as public places.

“Since the BJP has promised legislation in its manifesto, the samithi will root for steps in that respect,” general convener S.J.R. Kumar and president K.P. Sasikala told reporters after the meeting. The legal possibilities of securing a favourable verdict from the Supreme Court too will be explored.

They said that the people had voted against the arrogance of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the government’s stand aimed at destructing the Sabarimala shrine. “The Karma Samithi did not exhort the people to vote for any particular party. The faithful did not vote for a particular party or front. From the beginning, the BJP supported the cause and its vote share increased by 13 lakh,” they said.

It was not possible to say whether the issue would come up in the Assembly bypolls. “It may be resolved even before that,” they said and asked why the Congress leaders did not speak of legislation ahead of the Lok Sabha election. “Now they are aiming at the Assembly bypoll,” they said and added a state-level meeting of the Karma Samithi will be held at Pandalam on July 4.

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