Kerala govt's decision to implement Sabarimala ruling unfortunate, says RSS

The RSS on Wednesday called the Kerala government's move to not file a review petition on the Supreme Court order allowing women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple as "unfortunate" and called upon all the stakeholders to come together to address the issue.

Sabarimala Temple. PTI Photo

NEW DELHI: The RSS on Wednesday called the Kerala government's move to not file a review petition on the Supreme Court order allowing women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple as "unfortunate" and called upon all the stakeholders to come together to address the issue. RSS General Secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi said: "In the case of Sabarimala Devasthanam also, it is an issue of a local temple tradition and faith to which sentiments of millions of devotees, including women, are attached. These sentiments of the devotees cannot be ignored while considering the judgement." "Unfortunately, the Kerala Government has taken steps to implement the judgement with immediate effect without taking the sentiments of the devotees into consideration," he said in a statement. He said there is an obvious reaction on the issue by the devotees, especially women, who are protesting a break in the tradition. The RSS said it respects the Supreme Court's verdict on Sabarimala but at the same time urges all the stakeholders to come together to address the issue. "While the Supreme Court Judgement should be respected, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh calls upon all the stakeholders, including spiritual and community leaders to come together to analyse and address the issue availing judicial options also," Joshi said. "They must convey their concerns on their right to worship in a manner which best suits their faith and devotion, to the authorities in a peaceful manner," he added. On September 28, the top court threw open the doors of Sabarimala temple in Kerala to girls and women of all age groups by lifting the ban on the entry of those between the age of 10 and 50, holding this centuries-old Hindu religious practice is illegal and unconstitutional. Sabarimala is a prominent Hindu temple located at Pathanamthitta district in Kerala. It attracts tens of millions of pilgrims every year. (With inputs from agencies)