Thiruvananthapuram: Time to revisit social reforms, says Vijayaraghavan
Thiruvananthapuram: LDF convenor A. Vijayaraghavan has said the ongoing debate over the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to enter Sabarimala temple has given a momentous opportunity to the people to revisit state’s journey from renaissance movement to the present situation. Excerpts from an interview:
Is this an ideological battle?
There will be naturally an ideological debate with those reactionary forces in society who are still thinking about establishing chathur varna and upper caste supremacy in our society. It has to discuss the matter very seriously. Whatever customs and rituals were there, had to be changed and that is the reality. Untouchability and ban on temple entry.. all kinds of social evils were there. But the temple gates were opened to the Dalits and backward castes through temple entry movement.
Why is LDF now focusing on social reform movement?
We are trying to put the SC verdict in a proper perspective, recollecting the history of the renaissance movement. It was against the upper caste culture. Subsequently, the state witnessed not only religious reforms but major changes in society. The present government appointed Dalits as priests. There was opposition from upper caste sections. Same mindset was seen during the current agitation when goons attacked women media persons, abused and blocked women devotees.
The LDF has been accused of consciously creating a savarna avarna divide.
It is a baseless allegation. Actually the BJP and the Congress are trying to use the Sabarimala issue for political purpose. The government never tried to politicise the issue. The Sangh Parivar tried to use NSS led nama japa yathra. The NSS protest may have been natural response to the verdict but the BJP tried exploit the situation to legitimise their aggressive protest.
How will LDF carry forward its campaign ?
Sabarimala is a shrine where millions of devotes come to pray. So the first priority is to create peace and tranquillity in Sabarimala. Those devotees who are coming to worship Lord Ayyappa should not face protest or obstruction. People have every right for peaceful protest but temple premises is not a place for agitation. The government will put in place maximum facilities for pilgrims and ensure peaceful pilgrimage season.
