Reiterating his stand that the CPM-led LDF government in Kerala was not opposed to allowing women entry into the Sabarimala shrine, state Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran Monday said he was not aware of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan's remarks on the issue.
"The CPM and the government's opinion is that we are not opposed to allowing women entry into the temple but I do not know what the Chief Minister had said," he told reporters after participating in the BSNL employees union's convention here. Achuthanandan had told reporters in Nagercoil (Tamil Nadu) that Sudhakaran's views on the issue were his own and neither the state government nor the ministry had taken any decision in this regard.
"If men can enter a temple, why not women," Sudhakaran asked and made it clear that his opinion as minister was always on "behalf" of the government and not as an individual. Not only the Sabarimala temple, women are entitled to enter any place where men are permitted, Sudhakaran said. "Women have matched men in various fields at the international level today and wherever men can gain entry, women are also supposed to," the Minister said.
"The CPM and the government's opinion is that we are not opposed to allowing women entry into the temple but I do not know what the Chief Minister had said," he told reporters after participating in the BSNL employees union's convention here. Achuthanandan had told reporters in Nagercoil (Tamil Nadu) that Sudhakaran's views on the issue were his own and neither the state government nor the ministry had taken any decision in this regard.
"If men can enter a temple, why not women," Sudhakaran asked and made it clear that his opinion as minister was always on "behalf" of the government and not as an individual. Not only the Sabarimala temple, women are entitled to enter any place where men are permitted, Sudhakaran said. "Women have matched men in various fields at the international level today and wherever men can gain entry, women are also supposed to," the Minister said.