Sabarimala agitation rudderless: Vellappally

Alappuzha: The agitation surrounding the issue of women's entry into Sabarimala is a rudderless move and SNDP Yogam will not be a party to mobilize people for that, said Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan.

The strike in the name of an irrelevant judgement and whipping up religious fervour is a move to take people to the streets and cause trouble. What is actually needed is for the Centre and state governments to make legislation to overcome the judgement.

Vellappally was talking to newsmen after the meeting of the Yogam council. If a meeting had been called with all Hindu organizations, Yogam itself would have taken the initiative to protect the traditions. The court judgement is disappointing. But the Yogam is against conducting strikes in the street against it.

However, the Yogam will not oppose if its workers belonging to any political party take part in the strikes. Believing women will still continue to keep away from going to Sabarimala. Therefore, the judgement is irreleant. The strike is a blow on the government. Despite NSS being pampered to the utmost, they came out in strike against the govenrment.

At the same time, Vellappally softened his earlier stand that it would create awareness among Union members to dissuade them from participating in the strike. He instead said that the workers of the Union are affiliated to different political parties and the SNDP will not bar them from participating in strikes organized by those parties.