Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday alleged that the new affidavit filed by the Kerala Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the Supreme Court on the issue of women entering the Sabarimala temple was an attempt to deceive devotees. He demanded immediate withdrawal of the affidavit.
Addressing the media in Aluva, Mr. Chennithala said the government had not changed its earlier stand on the matter and the claim that the position had been revised was “totally false”.
He said in reviewing the submissions, it was clear that the government had not moved “an inch” from its earlier position. “Instead of clearly informing the apex court that menstruating women should not be allowed to enter Sabarimala, the government has only said that the court can take a decision after seeking the opinion of religious leaders and social reformers,” he said. He added that this meant the government was avoiding the issue.
Rather than convince the court that restricting women’s entry was a “fundamental religious practice,” he said, the government continued to adhere to its earlier position, which allowed women of all ages to enter.
Chennithala demanded that the government immediately withdraw the submission filed in the Supreme Court and instead fully accept the affidavit submitted earlier by the Oommen Chandy-led UDF government which clearly stated that women of menstruating age should not be allowed to enter the hill shrine.
He alleged that the government is again trying to trample on the sentiments of devotees. “The faithful would recognize the government’s double standard and respond accordingly,” he said.
Published – 15 March 2026 19:08 IST
