Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Temple entry law after consensus

Special Correspondent

State to wait for decision of tantris, says Sudhakaran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cooperation and Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran has said that the Government is ready to enact a law to allow non-Hindu believers entry into temples if there is consensus on the issue at all levels.

Replying to questions from reporters here on Monday, Mr. Sudhakaran said he would have to wait for the decision of the tantris and discuss the matter with the Chief Minister and Cabinet colleagues before he could say anything definitive in the matter.

The Government stand on the issue is very clear. He had first raised the issue when the question of allowing entry for playback singer K.J. Yesudas into the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple came up. Not many cultural leaders were ready to support him then. Many more came forward when Union Minister Vayalar Ravi's son's entry into the temple resulted in purification rituals, he pointed out.

Mr. Sudhakaran said his attempt was to expose the deep-rooted caste feelings within some people. When he spoke in favour of allowing Yesudas entry into the Guruvayur temple the caste feelings came out.

If there is some change in the attitude of such persons, he would welcome it. As he saw it, there is no need for a controversy over the issue, the Minister added.

Meeting to discuss row

PTI adds: As the debate over a purification ritual conducted in the Guruvayur temple continues, the Kerala Yogakshema Sabha, an organisation of Namboodiris, is meeting here on Monday to discuss the issue.

Community leaders, including Tantris (high priests), are attending the meeting, which will discuss the row sparked by the purification rite conducted after the visit of the son of Union Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi to the temple on the ground that his mother is a Christian by birth.

The meeting will deliberate on the cultural, social and political ramifications on the bar on non-Hindus for worshiping in the temple, sabha sources said.

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