Hindu outfits to organise meet to counter Ayyappa summit

In a move to counter what they alleged a politically motivated attempt by the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led government to mislead Ayyappa devotees through the proposed Global Ayyappa Summit, the Sabarimala Karma Samiti (SKS) and other Hindu organisations are set to organise ‘Sabarimala Samrakshana Sangamam’ at Pandalam on September 22.

This was announced at a press conference here by SKS general convener S.J.R. Kumar and leaders of a slew of Hindu outfits on Wednesday. Mr. Kumar said participation of Ayyappa devotees and Hindu organisations from across the country was being mobilised for the meet, one of the many programmes being held in this connection across the country and globally.

“It will not be just a gathering of Ayyappa devotees but will discuss in detail everything from the master plan for the development of Sabarimala and protecting Sabarimala from political conspiracies. Real devotees are unlikely to attend the Global Ayyappa Summit, rather it will be a meeting of atheists,” he said.

Mr. Kumar said it wasn’t an alternative to the proposed summit but had been in the plans for the past three weeks. The summit amounted to a constitutional violation since an elected government cannot interfere in religious matters or organise a meeting of devotees of any religious beliefs or spend money on it.

“While the government is trying to distance itself from the summit, the event was announced by Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan, who also invited politicians and Ministers from other States, including M.K. Stalin,” he said.

Mr. Kumar said a government led by the Marxist party, a proclaimed atheist outfit, had no moral right to hold such a religious meet. Dubbing the proposed summit as a political meeting, he said Pampa, which is an integral part of Sabarimala, cannot be desecrated with such an event.

While the government withdrew cases registered in connection with the CAA-NRC protests, the promise to similarly withdraw thousands of cases registered in connection with the protests organised against the entry of women to Sabarimala had gone unhonoured.

R.V. Babu, State president of the Hindu Aikya Vedhi were among those who attended the press conference.