LDF govt not to 'hurt' anybody on Sabarimala women entry issue

The LDF government in Kerala would not take any decision that would hurt anybody on the issue of entry of women of menstruating age in the famous hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala, state Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Tuesday said. 

Addressing a meet-the-press here, Surendran said, "The government will not take any decision that would hurt anybody ...it will take any decision only after consulting all groups." The issue had not yet been discussed either in the ruling front or by the ministry, he said. He further said he was only a politician and not competent enough to say how the entry of women would affect the rituals of the temple. 

"The case is under the consideration of the Supreme Court and it will take a decision in this regard. I am not the right person to say how the entry of women will affect the rituals of Ayyappa Temple. There are competent people to comment on the matter and they will speak," the Minister said. 

Women in the age group of 10-50 are banned entry in the temple, which attracts lakhs of devotees. Asked about the decision to dissolve the Devaswom Recruitment Board and entrust the job to the state-run Public Service Commission, he said there was no need for an institution like Devaswom Recruitment Board for the purpose.  "Our decision was only to leave the recruitment of clerical staff and engineers, who are very less in number, to PSC. And not the recruitment of priests. There is no need for a separate devaswom recruitment board for the purpose," he said. 

Surendran slammed the previous UDF government for constituting the board. The PSC would make appointments after meeting all necessary formalities and procedures, he added.