Amit Shah plays communal card in Kerala over Sabarimala

Playing the communal card over the Sabarimala issue in Kerala, BJP president Amit Shah said on Friday that the Left government in Kerala that tried to enforce the Supreme Court order on women entry at Sabarimala Ayyappa temple did not enforce the court order restricting the use of loud speakers at mosques.

Addressing public function at Palakkad district in Kerala, Shah alleged that the Communist government in Kerala was destroying the Hindu faiths and beliefs. The BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits would stand with the Sabarimala devotees to protect their interests.

It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent two visits to Kerala, had strongly flayed the CPM government in Kerala over its stand in favour of the SC order lifting the years-long restriction on entry of women in the 10-50 age group to Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.

Shah however, a step ahead by playing the communal card directly, which reflects BJP’s attempts to open its account to Lok Sabha from Kerala at any cost. The BJP is pinning high hopes to take advantage of a Hindu polarisation in Kerala over the Sabarimala issue.

A couple of pre-poll surveys had only forecast that the saffron party may win one seat in Kerala, probably Thiruvananthapuram where it came second in 2014 polls.

Shah who came on a one-day visit to Kerala said, “It is in the name of SC order that the CPM government in Kerala was enforcing the entry of women of all ages to the Ayyappa temple. Then the Left government will have to explain whether it enforced the restrictions imposed by court on use of loud speakers at masjids. Is the SC judge against only one community would be enforced. Are all SC orders being enforced by the Left government."

He also said the CPM in Kerala was heading towards destruction as it faced in West Bengal and Tripura. The stand taken by the CPM on Sabarimala would lead to its destruction in Kerala and it would be uprooted. DYFI activists dressed up as policemen were posted at Sabarimala to facilitate entry of women. Fake cases were charged against thousands of devotees and BJP-Sangh Parivar activists, he alleged.

Expressing high hopes that BJP-led NDA will script victory in Kerala in the coming Lok Sabha polls, Shah said that despite Kerala having no BJP MPs in Lok Sabha, the Narendra Modi government allocated huge funds for various development in the state.

The CPM government in Kerala was trying to scuttle various development projects of the centre for Kerala by delaying allocation of land. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was giving priority for his political interests rather than Kerala's development, he said.

Shah also said that the Narendra Modi was working hard for making India a superpower and hence BJP’s victory in the election was necessary. Those in the opposition were not having any ideology. They are only dealers and not leaders.

Shah also held closed-door meetings with BJP state leaders. The in-fight among the BJP state leaders over seat sharing was also learnt to have come up for discussions.