LDF, BJP responsible for Sabarimala chaos: Antony
TNN | Apr 7, 2019, 04:06 IST
Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader and former defence minister A K Antony said on Saturday that the LDF government in the state and BJP in the Centre were equally responsible for the Sabarimala chaos erupted following the Supreme Court order lifting age-related restrictions for women devotees visiting the hill shrine.
“The LDF government should have at least allowed the Travancore Devaswom Board to challenge the SC order. The BJP could have easily resolved the issue by promulgating a legislation. Both are equally responsible for the chaos that followed the court verdict. The Supreme Court too should have shown more diligence while pronouncing such an order. There was a difference of opinion among judges over the verdict. India is a land of hundreds and thousands of diverse beliefs and practices. That is in fact the beauty of the land,” Antony told reporters at a meet-the-press programme here.
Antony said the Congress stand by the Sabarimala devotees. “The age-old practices cannot be undone with the stroke of a pen. Retrograde practices in this land were abolished by the good work done by social reformers. We stand by the devotees, but we are not ready for any violence,” he said, adding that the fall out of the Sabarimala chaos would be most beneficial to the Congress.
Antony said the Pinarayi Vijayan government has miserably failed in the post-flood rehabilitation and rebuilding works. It was to divert public attention from this colossal failure of his government that he chose to play up the Sabarimala women entry issue, Antony said. “There is no meaning in saying that the state government was only trying to implement the Supreme Court order. We all know how adept the LDF governments were in implementing the court orders. If there was nothing to fear, why was Pinarayi government reluctant in ordering a judicial inquiry into the reasons that led to the huge deluge?” the senior Congress leader asked.
According to him, both the LDF and NDA candidates in Wayanad were equally weak and Rahul Gandhi would win the election hands down.
“The LDF government should have at least allowed the Travancore Devaswom Board to challenge the SC order. The BJP could have easily resolved the issue by promulgating a legislation. Both are equally responsible for the chaos that followed the court verdict. The Supreme Court too should have shown more diligence while pronouncing such an order. There was a difference of opinion among judges over the verdict. India is a land of hundreds and thousands of diverse beliefs and practices. That is in fact the beauty of the land,” Antony told reporters at a meet-the-press programme here.
Antony said the Congress stand by the Sabarimala devotees. “The age-old practices cannot be undone with the stroke of a pen. Retrograde practices in this land were abolished by the good work done by social reformers. We stand by the devotees, but we are not ready for any violence,” he said, adding that the fall out of the Sabarimala chaos would be most beneficial to the Congress.
Antony said the Pinarayi Vijayan government has miserably failed in the post-flood rehabilitation and rebuilding works. It was to divert public attention from this colossal failure of his government that he chose to play up the Sabarimala women entry issue, Antony said. “There is no meaning in saying that the state government was only trying to implement the Supreme Court order. We all know how adept the LDF governments were in implementing the court orders. If there was nothing to fear, why was Pinarayi government reluctant in ordering a judicial inquiry into the reasons that led to the huge deluge?” the senior Congress leader asked.
According to him, both the LDF and NDA candidates in Wayanad were equally weak and Rahul Gandhi would win the election hands down.
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