LDF, BJP on confrontational path over TDB decision to hold global Ayyappa devotees’ meet at Sabarimala

The Travancore Devaswom Board’s (TDB) decision to hold an international conference of Ayyappa devotees at Sabarimala in September appears to have put the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed by Hindu right-wing organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), on a confrontational path ahead of the local body polls in Kerala later this year.

Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan had last week projected the conference as a proactive measure to put Sabarimala on the global pilgrimage map.

BJP former State president Kummanam Rajasekharan termed the proposed conference a cover for the LDF government to undermine Sabarimala’s ancient traditions and practices.

The VHP has criticised the proposed devotees’ conference as a guise for the LDF to allow non-believers and political activists to use the revered temple as a bully pulpit for their disruptive propaganda.

Cong. silent so far

The Congress is yet to reveal its stance on the proposal. Nevertheless, it seemed not lost on opposing fronts in Kerala that the previous LDF government’s socially sensitive decision to implement the 2019 Supreme Court decision to allow women of all ages into Sabarimala had triggered widespread protests backed by the Congress, the BJP, specific Hindu social organisations and a constellation of majoritarian right-wing outfits, rocking the government.

The State police’s attempt to escort women, including those of childbearing age, a shibboleth challenged by the Apex Court, had resulted in violence, police cases and injuries on both sides.

2019 protests

The BJP said the LDF, “which persecuted Ayyappa devotees in 2019 for upholding their faith,” had no moral right to hold an international conference of devotees. It alleged that the LDF had retracted from its promise to withdraw cases against Hindu women who held peaceful prayer meetings to protest against the government’s bid to open Sabarimala to women of childbearing age.

Mr. Rajasekharan alleged that a cash-strapped LDF government was exploiting lakhs of Ayyappa devotees, who make the spiritual trek, for easy profit. He said the LDF government charged the Ayyappa devotees extortionately for providing below-par camping facilities.