Sabarimala row: Sitaram Yechury draws analogy with Babri demolition

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Friday attacked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for trying to communalise the Sabarimala temple issue. Yechury also drew the analogy of Sabarimala row with Babri Masjid demolition and said that appropriate actions will be taken against those trying to create tensions in Kerala.

Drawing the analogy of violence with Babri Masjid demolition, after women journalists were heckled, Yechury said to the media, “That is what has been condemned…all the tv crew who went there had women colleagues, they were all roughed up. And exactly the pattern is very similar to the time of Babri Masjid demolition. You have heads of the volunteers wearing saffron bands, they are having the same dress that was there then.. the similar thing is being done here. So it is an organised thing that the RSS is doing. So that is being fought.”

Yechury also opened up on the RSS’s claims that they have won in restricting the entry of women in the temple premise. He said, “The RSS lost the battle of not let the Sabarimala gates open, they lost the battle that the temple should not open on time and they will loose this battle also where women. Those who believe will go, those who won’t believe won’t go. That is voluntation, who wants to go will go. That protection is being given.”

On the law and order situation, he said, “The state government is dealing with it, I do not know the details to give opinions on. But the matter will be dealt with the state government. They are also cautious, authorities are cautious. That in the name of devotees, all such elements are getting entry. But if these sort of anti-sort of elements getting in, then action will be taken.” Adding more, he said, “Those who are wanting to enter cannot be stopped. If they are stopped, then appropriate action will be taken. You just wait for some more time and you will know what will be the action, that will be taken.”

Reacting on the demands of BJP and RSS’s review petition, Yechury said, “Already six review petitions are there in front of the Supreme Court. If the BJP and RSS really say you go for a review petition, they are already there — six of them. So wait for that. But I told you that’s not their objective, their objective is to arouse communal passion and that will be answered.”

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