The Supreme Court decision lifting limitation on entry of women of menstrual age into Sabarimala shrine, Congress MLA V T Balram has taken a markedly different stance from the one by his party in Kerala. He said that even though his views are personal, he supported the judgment and believes that women should be allowed to pray at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
In a Facebook post, Balram asserted his position on the matter and added that the Congress has “no responsibility to be the spokesperson of Brahminism, Nationalism and regressive concerns”.
“Retaining my personal view that women entry should be allowed in Sabarimala, I understand Congress’s democratic responsibility of taking a stance after considering the feelings of a large section of the society who are devotees.” However, he added, “There’s also a need to expose the Sangh parivar and the government for using this as an opportunity to communally tear apart secular Kerala using provocations and stubbornness,” the post reads.
Balmram continued to say that it is important to ensure that party’s spokespersons that feature on TV panel debates are well-read with the ideological legacy of the grand old party, and added that he has personally communicated the same with KPCC chief Mullappally Ramachandran.
Balram ended his post with a catchphrase: “Please remember, Rahul Gandhi, not Rahul Easwar is our party’s leader.”
When the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to enter Sabarimala was passed on September 28, the Kerala Congress initially supported it. However, the party soon took a U-turn from its stance and even protested venues at Nilakkal and Pamba when the temple opened earlier this month.
