The private Bill moved by N.K. Premachandran, MP, in the Lok Sabha on Friday seeking to conserve the customs and traditions of the Sabarimala temple is being seen more as a political posturing and the United Democratic Front’s bid to put the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the dock on the Sabarimala issue.
The LDF and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have categorically stated that they are not opposed to the Centre piloting a bill to give legal backing to the custom and traditions at Sabarimala, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict granting permission for women of childbearing age to enter the temple. However, they have cautioned that it should not be used as an emotive issue for mobilizing the faithful yet again.
Law Minister A.K.Balan and Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran have clarified that the government would not oppose such a move but expressed doubts about the Centre’s stance on the private Bill.