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Kottayam (Kerala) | Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan on Saturday blamed the BJP for the 2018 Supreme Court verdict permitting women's entry into Sabarimala and said the LDF government's current stand remains the same as the affidavit filed before the apex court in 2007.

He was responding to reporters' queries regarding the affidavit to be filed by the state government before the nine-member bench of the Supreme Court clarifying its position on the entry of women of menstruating age into the hill shrine.

He said the 2018 verdict came after women lawyers associated with the BJP approached the Supreme Court.

"We had filed an affidavit in 2007 stating that the issue should be decided by experts in ritualistic matters. We are still maintaining that stand," he said.

The Supreme Court has not sought the state government's position on women's entry now, but has asked for clarification on certain constitutional issues, he added.

"We have assigned the Advocate General and constitutional experts in the Supreme Court to give the reply. They will respond accordingly," the minister said.

He added that if the court seeks the state government's stand on the matter, it would be presented, noting that the LDF government had already stated its position in the affidavit filed in 2007.

"The party's (CPI-M) stand is the same as the government's. The government is with the devotees. We have always been with the devotees," he said.

The minister also criticised the opposition, alleging that they repeatedly approach courts on various issues and return with adverse responses.

"They go to court on several matters and come back with adverse responses. Has there been an opposition in Kerala that has faced so many setbacks from courts?" he asked.

Asked about the state government’s actions in 2018 following the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to enter Sabarimala, he said no such interpretation should be made as the government had already clarified its stand in the 2007 affidavit.

"If the Supreme Court gives any verdict, can we say anything against it. The women’s entry was the decision of the apex court of the country," he said.

He said the 2018 verdict came after women lawyers associated with the BJP approached the SC.

"They are now hiding. Actually they were standing for it. But here they are taking a different stand," he said.

He further alleged that attempts to facilitate women's entry in 2018 were made by BJP activists.

"It was BJP's young lawyers who filed the case and received the verdict. They then called it a historic judgement. But after some stage, they changed their position," he claimed.

He said the LDF government's position was that it respects the Supreme Court's verdict.

"But in our affidavit filed in 2007 we clearly stated that the entry of women of menstruating age should be decided by experts in ritualistic matters," he said.

He denied allegations that the state government had taken special interest in facilitating the entry of women of menstruating age into Sabarimala in 2018.

The Supreme Court in 2018 permitted women of menstruating age to enter the Sabarimala temple, following which Kerala witnessed widespread protests.

Currently, the Supreme Court is considering appeals against the earlier verdict.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby on Saturday said the 2018 LDF government implemented the Supreme Court’s order allowing entry of women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala temple as it was a court directive and not the government’s own decision.

“Then there was no political party that did not welcome the Supreme Court verdict. But later, some political parties changed their stand,” he told reporters.

Baby noted that the Supreme Court itself is now reviewing its earlier verdict in the Sabarimala women entry issue.

“When issues related to changing traditions at places of worship with ritualistic history are considered, opinions of experts and social reformers who are acceptable to the public can also be taken into account by the court,” he said.

Asked whether the party had diluted its earlier stand on the issue, he said that when a CPI(M)-led front is in power in the state, it advises the government only after considering the views of society and various communities.

On the other hand, BJP state general secretary M T Ramesh said the Kerala government has admitted its mistake through the new affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on the Sabarimala women entry issue.

“The BJP demands that the state government apologise to Ayyappa devotees,” he told reporters.

He said that in 2018 the Chief Minister had strongly advocated reforms and asked why the government had now changed its position.

“Do the CPI(M) and the Chief Minister believe that people will forget the violation of rituals that happened in 2018?” he asked.

Ramesh also alleged that more than 10,000 cases had been registered against people who participated in peaceful protests during the 2018 agitation over the issue.

“Based on the new stance of the government, those cases should be withdrawn,” he said.