Pinarayi says centre wanted curfew in Sabarimala, reads out letter in press meet

Producing a letter from the Home Ministry written in October last year, Pinarayi called out Modi’s speech on Sabarimala vs the Centre’s official stand on the issue.
Pinarayi says centre wanted curfew in Sabarimala, reads out letter in press meet
Pinarayi says centre wanted curfew in Sabarimala, reads out letter in press meet
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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday hit out at Prime Minister and BJP leader Narendra Modi for his comment on Sabarimala. Producing a letter written by the Home Ministry to the Kerala government soon after the Supreme Court’s Sabarimala verdict was pronounced, Pinarayi Vijayan said, that the Centre had asked for prohibitory orders to be issued in Sabarimala foreseeing violence.

PM Modi, at a campaign rally in Mangaluru, had said, “In Kerala, the communists have created such a situation that no person can take the name of [Hindu god] Ayyappa. If you say Sabarimala, there will be a case file against you, you will be jailed... Is this democracy?”

However, the central government had asked that prohibitory orders be issued to maintain law and order at Sabarimala in October 2018, Pinarayi said on Sunday. When someone asked the CM if he had proof of this instruction from the central government, Pinarayi Vijayan said, “Did you ask that question thinking that I am Narendra Modi? I don’t lie unnecessarily. I have brought the document, in case you’d ask for proof.”

He then read out from the letter sent by the Union Home Ministry, “Appropriate prohibitory orders be issued and a close watch may be kept on dissemination of adverse information through social media and internet services, to ensure that no breach of law and order takes place.”

The CM then said, “Though Narendra Modi may now be coming and speaking against the spirit of the Supreme Court verdict, he can, as the Prime Minister of the central government, only take such a stand.”

Copy of the letter sent by the Union Govt to the State 

The Supreme Court in September last year allowed entry to women of all ages into Sabarimala.

The letter noted that while certain civil/women’s rights activists, Left parties/fronts and pro-LWE groups have been campaigning in favour of women’s entry into the shrine, opposing groups/ activists have threatened that they would not allow entry of women inside the shrine. “In view of the above, all necessary precautionary measures may be taken to maintain law and order and appropriate security arrangements may be made to prevent any untoward incident,” the letter said.

The Chief Minister had earlier lashed out at the Prime Minister earlier, calling his statement unbecoming of a person of his stature. “Only those who unleashed violence in the name of religion were booked. Such criminals may get away in BJP-ruled states, but in Kerala, they will face strict action,” the Kerala CM had said.

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