Thiruvananthapuram: As the Kerala unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party is set to intensify its Sabarimala agitation from Monday, the ruling Left government has announced to form a "women wall" to garner support for the state government.
BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai said its leaders would launch an indefinite hunger strike before the Secretariat, to press various demands, including the lifting of prohibitory orders and providing basic amenities to pilgrims in and around the Lord Ayyappa temple.
"The party will launch indefinite hunger strike before the Secretariat from December 3, he said.
Now that BJP has shifted their agitation to Government Secretariat at Thiruvananthapuram peace and piety has descended on Sabarimala. Devotees need not hesitate. All arrangements for safety and comfort assured by government despite the severity of the floods that ravaged area.— Thomas Isaac (@drthomasisaac) December 2, 2018
The saffron party has decided to go ahead with the agitation despite Kerala High Court's order that no protests or demonstrations should be held at Sabarimala, holding that it was not a place for such activities.
Senior leader and state General secretary A N Radhakrishnan will kick start the agitation," he told reporters in Kochi. At present, we are planning a 15-day-stir, he said adding that the party would decide on further course of the agitation after taking into consideration the CPI(M)-led LDF government's stand on their demands.
The Kerala government, meanwhile, is trying to garner support to implement the apex court's verdict even as the Congress, BJP and several right-wing groups are up in arms against it.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that a "women wall" would be formed on January 1 from the northern district of Kasargode to the state capital in order to support the state government's stand.
"The hash tag of the 'women wall' would be not to turn Kerala into a lunatic asylum. At today's meeting these organisations have pledged their support to the state government on the stand taken by us on the Sabarimala issue," said Vijayan, adding political parties can also send their women cadre.
State finance minister TM Thomas Isaac asked people to join their resistance and help build the 600 km long human wall.
Great Wall of Kerala, to prevent the state from sliding back into medieval madness , going to be raised by a million women from one end of Kerala to other on New Year Day.That is around 600 km in length. Come, join the Resistance. It will be very very happy new year.— Thomas Isaac (@drthomasisaac) December 2, 2018
The meeting, called by Vijayan on Saturday, was attended by the Hindu Ezhava social group led by Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan, while the Hindu Nair Service Society did not turn up.
Vijayan had sent out invites to over 150 social groups.
(With agency inputs)
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