Sabarimala: Kerala government should withdraw cases filed against devotees, says Rajeev Chandrasekhar

The devotees have no faith in a government that has not withdrawn the cases foisted against those who participated in the agitations to protect Sabarimala traditions in the State, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said. The government, which made a U-turn on the entry of women into the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, should be ready to withdraw the cases filed against devotees during the protest, he said here on Tuesday.

The State government has submitted a new affidavit to the Supreme Court through the Travancore Devaswom Board, stating that the rituals and customs of the Sabarimala are decided by the Tantri (headpriest) and no one else has the right to interfere in it. However, cases against several people, including former BJP State president K. Surendran, are still pending. This is an opportunity to correct the mistakes done by the then government, said Mr. Chandrasekhar.