Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday expressed his disappointment at Hindu spiritual leader and guru Mata Amritanandamayi, for attending the Ayyappa Bhakta Sangamam, a gathering against women entry into Sabarimala held last week.
“Whatever may be the reason, she should not have participated in the meeting organised by the Sabarimala Karma Samiti,” he opined during his weekly television show Naam Munottu where he speaks about social, political and other issues of the state.
Discussing the rally, Pinarayi Vijayan said that Mata Amritanandamayi or Amma’s participation in the right-wing rally had tainted her image.
“There are people inside and outside Kerala who believe and admire Amritanandamayi. Even they have not liked her sharing such a stage,” the CM added
Pinarayi then blamed the Sangh Parivar for leading Amma in the wrong path.
“The Sangh Parivar has made attempts in the past too to lead Amritanandamayi through the wrong path. Prior to this she had shown the vigour to not fall into their trap and stayed away,” he said
Noting that Mata Amritanandamayi had only recently changed her stance on Sabarimala, the CM said that she had been supporting entry of women of all ages earlier.
Mata Amritandanmayi had inaugurated the Ayyappa Bhakta Sangamam, a really held in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday against women entry into Sabarimala.
The Sangamam was a show of strength by right-wing leaders and sanyasis against the Supreme Court verdict. It was attended by Swami Chidananda Puri, of the Kulathoor Advaithashramam, KP Sasikala - Hindu Aikya Vedi president, BJP State president Sreedharan Pillai, former DGP TP Senkumar who is currently a Seva Bharati member and others.
In the event, Amritanandamayi had termed the controversy surrounding Sabarimala unfortunate.
Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar addressed the gathering on video and Mata Amritanandamayi addressed the gathering with ‘Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa ki Jai’.
Earlier CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had also criticised the spiritual leader for her participation in the Ayyappa Bhakta Sangamam.
“Did Amritanandamayi change her stance because the RSS changed her stance? She should not have taken such a stance. Religious institutions like Amritanandamayi Mutt must remain apolitical,” Kodiyeri has said.