BJP responsible for Sabarimala women entry verdict, LDF's stand same as 2007 affidavit: Min Vasavan
Kottayam (Kerala) (PTI): Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan on Saturday blamed the BJP for the 2018 Supreme Court verdict permitting women's entry into Sabarimala and said the LDF government's current stand remains the same as the affidavit filed before the apex court in 2007.
He was responding to reporters' queries regarding the affidavit to be filed by the state government before the nine-member bench of the Supreme Court clarifying its position on the entry of women of menstruating age into the hill shrine.
He said the 2018 verdict came after women lawyers associated with the BJP approached the Supreme Court.
"We had filed an affidavit in 2007 stating that the issue should be decided by experts in ritualistic matters. We are still maintaining that stand," he said.
The Supreme Court has not sought the state government's position on women's entry now, but has asked for clarification on certain constitutional issues, he added.
"We have assigned the Advocate General and constitutional experts in the Supreme Court to give the reply. They will respond accordingly," the minister said.
He added that if the court seeks the state government's stand on the matter, it would be presented, noting that the LDF government had already stated its position in the affidavit filed in 2007.
"The party's (CPI-M) stand is the same as the government's. The government is with the devotees. We have always been with the devotees," he said.
The minister also criticised the opposition, alleging that they repeatedly approach courts on various issues and return with adverse responses.
"They go to court on several matters and come back with adverse responses. Has there been an opposition in Kerala that has faced so many setbacks from courts," he asked.
When asked about the state government’s actions in 2018 following the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to enter Sabarimala, he said no such interpretation should be made as the government had already clarified its stand in the 2007 affidavit.
"If the Supreme Court gives any verdict, can we say anything against it. The women’s entry was the decision of the apex court of the country," he said.
He said the 2018 verdict came after women lawyers associated with the BJP approached the SC.
"They are now hiding. Actually they were standing for it. But here they are taking a different stand," he said.
He further alleged that attempts to facilitate women's entry in 2018 were made by BJP activists.
"It was BJP's young lawyers who filed the case and received the verdict. They then called it a historic judgement. But after some stage, they changed their position," he claimed.
He said the LDF government's position was that it respects the Supreme Court's verdict.
"But in our affidavit filed in 2007 we clearly stated that the entry of women of menstruating age should be decided by experts in ritualistic matters," he said.
He denied allegations that the state government had taken special interest in facilitating the entry of women of menstruating age into Sabarimala in 2018.
The Supreme Court in 2018 permitted women of menstruating age to enter the Sabarimala temple, following which Kerala witnessed widespread protests.
Currently, the Supreme Court is considering appeals against the earlier verdict.
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Trump rushed out of dinner event after shots fired; one arrested
Washington (PTI): US President Donald Trump and other top White House officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual dinner of White House correspondents after a man armed with multiple weapons fired shots outside the ballroom of the hotel.
The incident took place at around 8:34 PM local time when dinner was served. At that time, Trump was seen having a conversation with Weijia Jiang, the President of the White House Correspondents' Association, and mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was scheduled to present a show at the marquee event at the Washington Hilton here.
Secret Service officials and other security personnel covered the President, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J D Vance, and the Second Lady Usha Vance, who were seated at the head table, and escorted them out of the ballroom.
Several guests at the dinner, including leaders across the political spectrum, journalists and other invitees, ducked under the table, apparently as a reflex reaction.
Putting up a brave face, President Trump later announced on Truth Social that the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days.
“Boom, boom, boom, boom is all that I heard, and many guests ducked under the table,” a C-SPAN reporter at the dinner said.
Hours later, Trump addressed a press conference at the White House and announced that the security personnel had captured one person who hails from California.
“I heard a noise and sort of thought it was a tray going down. I've heard that many times. It was a pretty loud noise, and it was from quite far away. He (the attacker) hadn't reached the area at all. They really got him,” Trump told reporters, recalling the incident.
Trump said one security officer was shot at but saved as he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Several protestors had lined up on the road outside the hotel, raising slogans against the Trump administration and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
A CNN reporter who was outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton said he saw a gunman opening fire just a few feet away. He was among the dozens of attendees who took cover as law enforcement swarmed the venue.
The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California.
Asked how Saturday’s incident impacts him as the US president, Trump told reporters he is in a dangerous job but that he is no “basket case.”
“I like not to think about it. I lead a pretty normal life, considering, you know, it’s a dangerous life. I think I handle it as well as it can be handled,” Trump said.
Trump has survived two assassination attempts over the past two years – first at a presidential election campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, and later in Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024.
“I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals, and progressives...everybody in that room, big crowd, record-setting crowd,” he said.
“We had some great work done by law enforcement, but in light of this evening's events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our differences peacefully,” Trump said.
