Cong repeats demand for law on Sabarimala issue, seeks to corner BJP

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 6

In the wake of ongoing violence in Kerala over the entry of women of reproductive age into the Sabarimala shrine, the Congress on Sunday reiterated the demand for a law to "marry the Constitution and law with the traditions of the people of Kerala".

Attacking the ruling CPM in Kerala for failing to protect law and order in the state and opposition BJP of fomenting trouble on the issue, the Congress said a law was urgent to address the matter.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala in a statement today said the Centre must bring a law to marry the rights of women of Kerala to the long-held traditions of society there.

Congress leader KC Venugopal had this week moved an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha demanding such a Law and had also raised the issue in Zero Hour.

"While BJP is creating trouble and CPM has failed to maintain law and order in the state, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee is espousing the long-held traditions of people of Kerala in a peaceful manner. We believe that law and constitution is supreme, but, belief and tradition of people, particularly the people of Kerala have to be married  with the existing law and the constitution. The faith of people of Kerala cannot be segregated from the rigours of law and from the constitution that we gave ourselves. It is for this reason that the Congress and our senior MP KC Venugopal suggested in the Parliament that let BJP government bring in a piece of legislation," Surjewala said.

He said let the legislation be debated, rights of women be stated on the floor of Parliament, traditions of Kerala over centuries be espoused and stated in Parliament and a path found, which is bereft of violence and acceptable to all.

The Congress stand on Sabarimala has remained ambivalent with the party centrally backing the SC order allowing women of all ages to enter the shrine but the state unit joining local protests against such entry.

Senior Congress leaders from Kerala, including Shashi Tharoor, have changed their opinion on the issue with Tharoor admitting he earlier saw the issue as one of equal access but later realised it was one of religion and sanctity.

With the SC set to hear review petitions against its orders on January 22 Congress has now decided to seek a law in Parliament to urgently address the matter in the wake of deteriorating law and order and go out the BJP on the defensive ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The Congress in Kerala has also filed a review petition against the SC judgment demolishing the age barriers for women to enter the Lord Ayappa temple.