T’puram/Kochi/Kottayam: BJP state general secretary K Surendran alleged that chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was trying to create a caste polarization within the Hindu community as he had no other option to escape the public outcry against state government’s adamant stand favouring the apex court verdict on Sabarimala . “The CM’s attempt to give a colour of caste polarization is pejorative,” he said.Surendran said Vijayan and CPM were trying to wash their hands off by saying that the government affidavit in SC had stressed on the importance of holding discussions with stakeholders. “Counsels of government and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) did not raise these points in court. Centre has no role in a state subject (devaswom). Government should file a review petition,” he said.Surendran said BJP will organize a namajapa procession of devotees to Pamba on October 17. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena – in association with Ayyappa Dharma Raksha Samiti and Ganeshotsava Trust – organized a protest march to Raj Bhavan demanding a central government ordinance to help devotees.Meanwhile in Alappuzha and Kottayam, BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pillai said the matter is currently under the consideration of a larger bench of the court and government should wait for its verdict.‘Devotees cheated’: KC (M) chairman KM Mani said government failed to protect the rights of Sabarimala devotees. Gender equality must be there in all fields. Torpedoing customs cannot be allowed, he said.1L devotees to converge at Secretariat: Sabarimala Aachara Samrakshana Samiti (SASS) patron Prayar Gopalakrishnan said one lakh Ayyappa devotees will meet at Secretariat on October 16. SASS has plans to call a state-wide hartal on October 17, when Sabarimala temple will open. SASS informed that it will not allow women to enter Sabarimala until SC decides on the review petition. SASS will request the court to refer the case to a seven-judge bench.‘Govt trying to appoint non-Hindus’: Hindu Aikya Vedi has alleged that government is trying to appoint non-Hindus as TDB and Cochin Devaswom Board officials. It said government had amended sub-section (2) of Section 29 of the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act (1950). It alleged that the words ‘who shall be appointed by the board shall be a Hindu,’ has been omitted in the gazette published on July 6, 2018. “A non-Hindu can be appointed as member of the board,” alleged state secretary RV Babu.

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