After welcoming the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala, DMK seems to have woken up to the protest against entry of women into Lord Ayappa temple with its party organ coming out with an editorial in support of entry of menstruating women.

What could explain the long silence of the DMK is the stand of its ally Congress, especially the Kerala unit of the national party, opposing the Apex court verdict along with the BJP.

DMK mouthpiece Murasoli’s editorial was published after major parties and leaders in the state including the ruling AIADMK, DMDK, PMK and actor Rajinikanth wanted the Apex court not to interfere in the mater of religious traditions. It chose to target the BJP and the RSS in its editorial while maintaining a stoic silence over the role of the Kerala unit of Congress, the main opposition party.

“Women are being denied entry to Sabarimala to offer worship. If we ask anything, they are simply raising invalid questions. What does the rationalist have to do with it? Why the atheist is asking about this? Why the Leftists are interfering in it? What do the Communists know about these things? If the rights of a person being denied on the basis of a gender, anyone can ask and protest seeking the rights as per law. It is a voice raised in support of the believers' rights,” the editorial said.

Noting that all the political parties welcome the Apex court order allowing the entry of women of all age groups, it said that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also welcomed it. “Even as the Kerala government offered security to women coming to offer worship after the temple was opened from five days from October 17, the workers of RSS, BJP and Sangh Parivar were instigating protest,” it said.

The DMK organ alleged that the BJP is using the Sabarimala issue to create its foothold in South India where it as a poor presentation. It accused the Centre issuing advice to the Southern states to maintain law and order over the Sabarimala issue rather than asking them to implement the Apex court order.

In Tamil Nadu, the ruling AIADMK has taken a stand seeking to maintain the status quo on the issue considering it as a matter of belief. Vijayakanth’s DMDK and former union minister and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss also taken a similar stand. Actor turned politician Rajinikanth welcome the Apex court verdict bus also wanted the tradition should not be changed. Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasan said he did not want to comment on the issue saying that he could not understand the sentiment of the devotees.