‘Disappointing That Kerala Government Didn’t File Review Petition Against Sabarimala Order’, RSS Breaks Its Silence 

The RSS on Wednesday (3 September) described the Kerala government’s move to not file a review petition in the Supreme Court against the order permitting women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple as “unfortunate”. It also called upon all the stakeholders to come together to address the issue.

Even as thousands of Ayappa devotees and women took to the streets against the verdict, Pinarayi said the government will not file a review petition.

Asserting that the state government is duty-bound to implement the Supreme Court verdict, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Kerala will make necessary arrangements to honour the Supreme Court verdict.

“In the case of Sabarimala Devasthanam, 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,” RSS General Secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, the Kerala government has taken steps to implement the judgement with immediate effect without taking the sentiments of the devotees into consideration,” he added.

He added that there is an obvious reaction on the issue by the devotees, especially women, who are protesting a break in the tradition. “The recent judgement on Sabarimala has evoked reactions all over the country. While we all respect the varied temple traditions followed by devotees in India, we have to also honour the Supreme Court,” he said.

The senior RSS functionary urged all stakeholders, including spiritual and community leaders, to come together to analyse and also address the issue availing judicial options.

“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 said.