As Kerala heads towards crucial elections, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has reopened the Sabarimala women entry case to appease Islamist fundamentalists in the state. A fresh case has been registered against former state president and current guardian of Hindu Aikya Vedi (VHP Kerala), K.P. Sasikala, in connection with the 2019 Sabarimala protests, five years after the incident.
The Pinarayi Vijayan-led government has long been targeting sangh parivar activists involved in the widespread protests against the entry of women into the Sabarimala mandir. The latest legal action against Sasikala is seen as part of a continuing pattern of harassment. Along with her, Sabarimala Karma Samiti General Convener SJR Kumar and BJP state vice president Dr KS Radhakrishnan have also been named in the case.
Unprecedented and disciplined protest in Kerala.
This is against the judgment of the Supreme Court permits the ladies in Sabarimala of all ages.
Amazing women crowd taking out big rally to save the tradition at Pandalam, Kerala. #SabarimalaVerdict#Kerala pic.twitter.com/2wXvcd3qcX
— IndSamachar News (@Indsamachar) October 11, 2018
Notably, this renewed legal action coincides with the upcoming by-election in Nilambur, Malappuram district, part of the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency represented by Priyanka Gandhi. It is believed the Left’s move is a calculated effort to win over Islamic fundamentalist voters in the state. In a parallel attempt to woo the Muslim electorate, the CPI(M) has also taken a vocal stand against Israel. This strategy is perceived as part of the LDF’s broader campaign to consolidate Muslim support in the upcoming local body and legislative assembly elections.
The case being reactivated was originally registered by the Kannur Town Police in 2019 against K.P. Sasikala and SJR Kumar, following incidents of violence during a hartal called in protest against the Supreme Court’s verdict allowing women of all ages to enter Sabarimala temple.
What a massive support to save #Sabrimala tradition.!
If Kerala CM believes that he can destroy Hindu traditions using power he will have to pay the price…. Hindus are rising in protest, thousands have gathered with Swamis to attend #AyyappaBhakthaSangamam pic.twitter.com/Kc377GuyUT— Barkha Trehan 🇮🇳 / बरखा त्रेहन (@barkhatrehan16) January 20, 2019
However, in 2022, the Kerala High Court had quashed the case. The petitioners’ counsel had argued that neither Sasikala nor Kumar were initially listed in the FIR, and that they were later added as accused based on directives from the state police chief. Justice AA Ziyad Rahman accepted the argument and quashed the proceedings.
Similarly, another case registered against Sasikala by Kozhikode Police on January 3, 2019, which accused her of attacking a police vehicle, obstructing officials, and illegal assembly, was also quashed by the High Court in 2023. The court ruled that Sasikala had not committed any crime beyond participating in the hartal, which itself was not a punishable offence. The judgement categorically stated that the case represented a misuse of legal provisions.
Against this backdrop, the current move to reopen cases is widely viewed as politically motivated and intended to placate Islamic fundamentalist groups.
