Our Bureau
Vellappally Natesan, the vocal chieftain of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, has thrown in his lot with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the Sabarimala issue.
The SNDP Yogam is also the ideological parent of the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), a member of the State unit of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
‘Campaign against govt’
Natesan charged that the ongoing protests against the Supreme Court verdict — allowing women of all ages access to the Sabarimala shrine — is a veiled campaign to oust the CPI(M)-led government.
He disapproved of the Nair Service Society (NSS) and the BJP’s campaign against the verdict. “Nobody is winning here,” Natesan said.
Observers say that the rivalry between two leading communities in Kerala might come to the fore again after several attempts in the past to cobble up a united front.
‘Exclusive mindset’
He faulted the upper caste Hindus for not consulting other denominations, including the Ezhavas and other backward communities.
“It is not that the Tantri family (traditional high priests at Sabarimala) alone represents the Hindu pantheon,” he said. The Chief Minister had invited the family for conciliatory talks.
“Other Hindu denominations should also have been called,” Natesan said. The SNDP Yogam will soon call a meeting of office-bearers. Ezhava women of the restricted age will not enter Sabarimala; but those who wish to, may choose to go.
Natesan’s reaction comes at a time when the BJP which is under pressure ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The BDJS did not comment on latest developments.
Meanwhile, MT Ramesh, General Secretary, BJP, Kerala, has said in Kochi that the party will not prevent those women from visiting the hill shrine. But said he was convinced that no firm believer of the restricted age would do that.