The Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam has come out in support of the State government on the Sabarimala temple issue.
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan said the ongoing protest was an attempt to bring down the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the State.
“It is not right to oppose the Supreme Court verdict. We cannot support those opposing the government. People should abide by rules even while following rituals and customs. Unleashing violence in the name of Hindus is not acceptable. Both the BJP and Congress have political motives. The BJP is playing vote bank politics. They are among those trying to destroy the Sabarimala temple,” Mr. Natesan said.
He said the SNDP Yogam suspected that the organisations conducting the present protests were planning to create a second liberation struggle in the State. “The protesters have not held any kind of discussions with other Hindu communities or organisations of the Ezhava community. The SNDP will not support the protest. If it continues like this, the SNDP will launch parallel protests and unmask them. We will not accept unilateral decisions taken by a section of the Hindu community,” the SNDP Yogam general secretary said.
Mr. Natesan said the stand of the SNDP Yogam was that women should not go to Sabarimala. “Everyone should accept the Supreme Court verdict allowing the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple. But at the same time, we can overcome the verdict by continuing the existing practice. Women should not visit the Sabarimala temple. Review petitions have been filed and we will wait,” he said.
He urged the State government to invite various Hindu organisations for talks on the matter. “It is not a right decision on the part of the Sabarimala Tantri and the Pandalam royal family to decline an invitation by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for a conciliation meeting. They should have attended the meeting and conveyed their opinion. The Chief Minister has taken an open stand on Sabarimala. He should invite all Hindu organisations for talks,” Mr. Natesan said.
The Yogam general secretary criticised Travancore Devaswom Board president A. Padmakumar for his handling of the matter. “The president added fuel to the issue through his inconsistent stand on the matter. He should step down from the post,” Mr. Natesan.