Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Saturday said that the Supreme Court should not pass verdicts that conflict with the religious faith of the people and can't be implemented on the ground.

Targeting the CPI-M government for allegedly committing atrocities on workers of the BJP, the RSS, the NSS (Nair Service Society) and the devotees of Lord Ayyappa on the pretext of the SC judgement, Shah said there were scores of judgments including banning the practice of Jallikattu, use of loudspeakers in mosques, curbing the Dahi-Handi pyramid event in Maharashtra during Ganesh Chaturthi and others - that could not be implemented on the ground.

Shah was speaking at a public meeting in Kannur, Kerala.

Referring to Article 14 (guaranteeing right to equality) and Articles 25 and 26 (guaranteeing right to practise and profess one's religion), Shah asked how could right to equality override other fundamental rights to practise one's religion.

Attacking the Kerala Chief Minister for taking the cover of the Supreme Court judgement to unleash atrocities on the devotees of Lord Ayyappa, Shah said that the Communist government was attacking the Hindu temples and their traditions.

Kerala police have arrested over 1,400 people across the state, registering 258 cases against 2,000 people for defying an order of the Supreme Court that had allowed women of all ages to visit the temple.

The Supreme Court had on September 28 overturned a centuries-old practice that barred women of menstrual age (10-50 years) from entering the hill temple, where celibate deity Lord Ayyappa is worshipped.

On October 17, the temple opened at 5 p.m. for the monthly pujas which ended on October 22. Protesters ensured that no female in the 10-50 age group could make it to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

If the state government does not stop attacking the devotees of Lord Ayyappa, then it should be "ready to face the wrath of the people" backed by the BJP, the RSS, the NSS and other outfits, he warned.

He said that it was women who were resisting the entry of menstruating women in Lord Ayyappa Sabarimala temple.

"It is the women who are at the forefront of the agitation that women in the age group of 10 to 50 years should not go to the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala", Shah said.

He named a number of temples across the country where women alone could enter.

Defending the practice of prohibiting the entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 years in the Sabarimala temple, Shah said Hindus have reformed their practices, referring to permitting widow remarriage and curbing child marriage.

He said that the Hindu faith has never undermined women and respected them as mother and goddess.

Criticising Vijayan for not doing enough for the relief and rehabilitation of the people affected by floods, Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sanctioned a number of projects for Kerala, included setting up of an IIT, and a Super Specialty Hospital, but the state government failed to acquire land for these projects.

Asking Vijayan to resign for his failures, Shah said that instead of committing atrocities on those opposing the entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 years into the Sabarimala temple, the Chief Minister should focus on the development of the state.

--IANS

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