All party meeting in Kerala to discuss Sabarimala issues

An All party meeting, called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, will be held here on Thursday to discuss issues related to the SC verdict on Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.

The meeting will be held at the Chief Minister's chamber at 1100 hrs. The meeting was called in the wake of Tuesday's SC decision to hear the review petitions, against the September-28 SC verdict allowing the entry for women of all ages into the temple, on January 22.

The all party meeting is aimed at creating a consensus among political parties to implement the previous SC verdict, citing that Tuesday's SC order did not stay the women entry.

The Chief Minister said the Government will take an appropriate decision on Tuesday's SC order after taking opinion from legal experts.

However, State Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said the Government's responsibility is to implement the Supreme Court order. The Minister said the Government was studying the SC order and could take a proper decision after consultation with legal experts.

To a question on no stay for the September 28 apex court's verdict, the Minister said the Government will abide by the SC verdict. The temple will open for the two-month-long annual pilgrimage on November 16 at 1700 hrs.