The ruling Left Front is under the scanner for the change in its stance due to the Supreme Court’s decision to hear again the issue of women’s entry into temples during elections.
After seven and a half years, the issue of women’s entry into Sabarimala temple is again creating political stir in Kerala. The Supreme Court has decided to hear the issues raised in the Sabarimala review petition from April 7. Due to this, the ruling Left Democratic Front government is in a new trouble. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) led government may now be forced to express its stand before the court. The government previously took an open stand on the issue of women’s admission, but its stance has softened in recent years. In 2018, the Left government tried its best to implement the decision of the Supreme Court. In that decision, the court had allowed women of all ages, including women of menstruating age, to enter the temple.
Now the Chief Justice has constituted a constitutional bench of nine judges for the review petition. The court asked all the parties to give their opinion by March. Therefore, the Kerala government and the Travancore Devaswom Board may again have to give their opinion on the entry of women into the temple.
Caste groups protesting against the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision appealed to the government to change its stance and oppose the entry of women in the Supreme Court. Congress said that it is in favor of maintaining the tradition. His stance remains intact even today. CPI(M) had then adopted an aggressive stance in favor of the decision, but has now softened down. The ruling party is indicating that it will not stick to its progressive stance of 2018.
Kerala society was divided by the court’s 2018 decision. Many conservative caste groups and organizations took to the streets against the Supreme Court’s decision. Left and progressive forces, including the Ambedkarite group, had welcomed the decision. The RSS initially supported the decision, but later reversed course and violently protested in favor of religious rituals.
The Left Front faced a major defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He got only one seat. Congress emerged as the big winner. After the election defeat, the Left Front softened its stance and tried to portray itself as a protector of tradition. The Global Ayyappa Conclave held last year was the latest in his efforts to woo conservative sections of society.
The Supreme Court is going to reconsider this matter at a time when the CPI(M) government is struggling with the Sabarimala gold theft case and allegations of embezzlement of money. Dr. Malavika Binny, a historian at Kannur University, says, “With elections round the corner, I do not expect the government to take any progressive stance on women’s entry into Sabarimala, especially after the recent local body election results. Of course, being a feminist, I would like the government to not only support women’s right to enter, but also stand by the promises made during the women’s protests. The right to equality is not linked to electoral politics.” “Should be connected, but unfortunately it is connected.”
After the 2018 verdict on Sabarimala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched a major campaign for gender equality, describing the Supreme Court’s decision allowing women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple as part of Kerala’s renaissance movement. He said that his party will not change its stand on this issue, even if it faces defeat in the elections. But changing times proved that this was more rhetoric than resolution.
The situation became such that later in the Ayyappa Conclave, the same Chief Minister was seen mentioning Bhagavad Gita to explain the qualities of a theist. Sanskrit scholar and writer Dr. T.S. Shyam Kumar says, “Today, no one expects the government to take a progressive stance on women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple. In fact, the government’s recent steps have emboldened conservative forces.”
The Left Front’s electoral defeat in 2019 probably resulted from the setback due to its tough stance in favor of women’s entry. After that, by reaching door to door and running various programs, the party assured the people that no action would be taken against their old customs. The result of this change was visible in the Global Ayyappa Conference. A supporter of the Left Front, on the condition of anonymity, says, “The change in CPI(M)’s stand once again proves that no party claiming ideological commitment, including the Left, dares to challenge the established conventions in the society.”
“There may be pressure from different groups, but as a leftist who talks about justice, I still hope that the government will defend women’s rights in the Supreme Court,” says women’s rights activist Dr Suja Susan George. According to him, the government should adopt a stance according to constitutional values.
When it was asked what will be the government’s stand in the Supreme Court now? CPI(M) State Secretary M.V. Govindan hesitated. He said, “Everything will change except change.” He did not clearly say what stand the party would take on Sabarimala. Uneasiness was clearly visible on his face. According to some reports, the government may take an ambiguous stance on the entry of women. Shyam Kumar says, “This is also a blow to the progressive forces. This will also give courage to the conservative people.”
There does not seem to be any confusion on this issue among parties like Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party like CPI(M). These parties consistently oppose the right of women to worship in the hill temple.
V.S. The Left Front government led by Achuthanandan had expressed its opinion to the Supreme Court in 2006 in favor of women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple.
The Nair Service Society (NSS), which had strongly opposed the Supreme Court order and the supportive stance of the state government at that time, is happy with the changed approach of the government. NSS general secretary Sukumaran Nair said, “The government has not openly accepted the change in stance, but it is clear from their actions.” The SNDP, which has links with both the CPI(M) and the BJP, appealed to the government to oppose the entry of menstruating women into the temple.
This case will open at a time when election campaigning is going on in the state. Progressive forces and intellectuals may criticize the CPI(M) that the government has succumbed to conservative pressures, but the party seems to be in no mood to show its progressive identity in this big election. Nevertheless, it is certain that they will take aim at any change in the government’s stance and try to take political advantage of it.
