They didn't land in chopper: CM Pinarayi on women Sabarimala entrants

Thiruvananthapuram:  Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday defended the act of two women who entered Sabarimala temple on Wednesday, saying they did not arrive in a helicopter to have 'darshan'.

"These two women came just like any other pilgrim and went up the way that all pilgrims go to the temple. They never came on a helicopter to have darshan," Vijayan told the media here.

He said other pilgrims made the process of 'darshan' smooth when the two women pilgrims prayed at the temple.

"This is normally what happens... when pilgrims make arrangements for other pilgrims to have a 'darshan'," said Vijayan.

The temple was shut for an hour for "purification rituals" after Vijayan on Wednesday morning confirmed that Bindu and Kanaka Durga had 'darshan' at 3.30 a.m. In the 10-50 age group that remained banned until the recent Supreme Court verdict, both had been prevented on December 24 by predominantly male pilgrims from entering the hill shrine.

On Thursday, Vijayan reiterated that the state government had abided by the Supreme Court directive for allowing women of all age groups to pray at the Sabarimala temple.

"On Wednesday, a very surprising thing happened when the temple tantri closed the temple. This is an act which should not have happened as it was a blatant violation of the Supreme Court order," the Chief Minister said. 

"He has every right as a person to differ with the supreme court order... but if he is not able to digest the verdict, he could well have quit his post as he cannot defy the law of the land. The Travancore Devasom Board is the custodian of the temple and they should seriously look into what happened on Wednesday," said Vijayan.

Vijayan went on to add that there was no protest at all from the ordinary people including women, over the praying of the two women at the Sabarimala temple.

"But the trouble started after the Sangh parivar forces went on a rampage attacking police, damaging numerous vehicles. We have decided that at no cost will the authorities be silent and very strong action would be there against the law breakers," said Vijayan.

Vijayan also thanked the women of Kerala who made the January 1 'Women's Wall' programme a huge success.

"The staging of this event has scripted a new history and has laid the foundation of a very strong Kerala," added Vijayan.