Rahul Gandhi puts KPCC in a fix

Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress state unit landed in a fix after AICC president Rahul Gandhi supported entry of women of all ages to Sabarimala. KPCC has been toeing the line of BJP-RSS and other right-wing outfits which are still resisting entry of women in the age group of 10 - 50 years to Sabarimala temple.
Rahul, while addressing media in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, said all women should be allowed to enter the Sabrimala temple, noting that his view on the issue was different from that of his party’s Kerala unit.

The public statement from Rahul turned out to be a much-awaited weapon for the LDF. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran welcomed Rahul’s stand.

“AICC had termed the Supreme Court verdict historic as soon as it was out. Now, Rahul has reiterated this,” said the CM. He also ridiculed the stand taken by the state Congress. “Congress leaders are still adopting the most conservative ways when the world is moving in a progressive way,” he said.

However, Congress leaders from the state tried to put up a brave face on Rahul’s defence in favour of gender equality. “Rahul himself has admitted that he had accepted the stand taken by the Kerala leaders. The state unit of the party decided to oppose women entry since we are with the sentiments of believers,” said opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.

“Rahul never disowned KPCC stand. But he has accepted our demand that the party should stand with the believers considering the political situation prevailing in the state,” he said. “There is no need for any confusion regarding Rahul’s statement. We are with the believers and the majority opinion in the state is against women entry,” added Chennithala.

Young Congress leader V T Balram, MLA said, “Personally I am with the statement made by Rahul. But, Congress has a political and social responsibility in the state. Hence the party has decided to stay with the sentiments of the devotees and the believers’’.

AICC has allowed the state leadership to stay with the sentiments of the devotees after realising the social responsibility of the party. “We are not here for Hindutva agenda or for creating any communal imbalance. The party stands with the majority, which is against the SC verdict,’’ said Balram.

KPCC working president K Sudhakaran said if Congress is not ready to accept the sentiments of the believers, it will cost dear for the party in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. It will be a waterloo for the party.

KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran has said that the media misquoted Rahul. He said: “Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru stood for the protection of interests of the believers. Rajiv Gandhi brought in law in the Sha Bano case.”

Mullappaly added that state units of the party have been given permission from the national leadership to take stand on regional issues. “Congress always stood with the believers,” he said.

CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran asked how a national party can have different standards at national and regional levels.

(With inputs from Kozhikode)