The Shiv Sena has called for a Kerala-wide dawn to dusk hartal on Monday (October 1) in protest against the recent Supreme Court judgement lifting the ban on women between the ages 10 and 50 entering the Sabarimala temple. Hospitals and emergency services have been excluded from the hartal.
"Siva Sena will file a review petition against the verdict in association with other religious institutions," MS Bhuvanachandran, the Kerala Rajya Pramukh of the organisation said in a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. He also claimed the only reason RSS welcomed the verdict was because it had a political agenda of its own.
"The rituals practiced in the temple have existed since before the Constitution. They should be preserved. The verdict is based on logical thinking without understanding the rituals. The verdict is such that the people will lose trust and respect towards the top court," he said.
He added, "Sabarimala is a centre of worship for people of various religions. The Constitution does not tell us how to worship in a temple. The right to decide how to worship lies with the temple priest or other religious scholars. What devotees think in the issue shouldn't be overlooked. This is ridiculing women and their faith,” Bhuvanachandran said.
The Supreme Court on Friday lifted the ban on the entry of women into the temple. The court observed that physiological and biological factors can't be given legitimacy if they don't pass the muster of constitutionality, meaning women and men are equal.
Ayyappa Dharma Sena, a Hindu organisation which has been against the entry of women into the temple, will also file a review petition against the verdict.