Kerala CM signals withdrawal of minor cases during 2018 Sabarimala agitation, but promises prosecution in severe offences

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated the government would withdraw cases concerning minor law infringements during the Save Sabarimala campaign in 2018.

However, Mr. Vijayan asserted that the law would take its own course in cases concerning serious offences.

The State police had registered scores of cases relating to attacks on police, destruction of public property, ambushing of Ayyappa devotees, assaulting women, outraging their modesty, creating enmity between different groups of people, unlawful assembly, rioting, and other cognisable offences during the month-long socially tumultuous agitation.

(The Save Sabarimala agitation had erupted after Hindutva forces violently opposed the government’s bid to open the doors of the hill shrine to women of all ages, including those in the childbearing age, in deference to a Supreme Court order. Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had expressed solidarity with the agitators. They made a case for the protestors’ cause during the campaigning for the 2021 Assembly election, which saw Mr. Vijayan assume power for a second consecutive term.)

Mr. Vijayan’s remarks at a press conference on Wednesday (August 27, 2025) came against the backdrop of the BJP State president, Rajiv Chandrasekhar, issuing an ultimatum to the Chief Minister to publicly apologise for the transgressions against Ayyappa devotees and withdraw the cases slapped against them. He also demanded that Mr. Vijayan supplicate himself penitently in front of the Ayyappa and seek the deity’s forgiveness.

Mr. Chandrasekhar also demanded comparable public expressions of contrition from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for “disparaging the Hindu faith”.

He warned that the BJP workers and “Hindus in Kerala and Tamil Nadu” would boycott the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) sponsored Global Ayyappa Sanghamam at Pampa on September 10 and deter Mr. Vijayan, Mr. Stalin, and Mr. Udayanidhi Stalin from attending the function if they did not meet his demand.

“Mr. Chandrasekhar can pocket such trivial threats. He is unfamiliar with Kerala, its culture, political history, and its liberal, reformist, progressive, democratic, and secular legacy. The BJP leaders’ sabre-rattling won’t intimidate Kerala or derail the Ayyappa Sangham. It will go on as planned”, Mr. Vijayan said.

Mr. Vijayan noted that lakhs of persons visited Sabarimala annually. A majority of them hailed from the working class. The temple was open to people of various faiths. “Ayyappa devotees offer obeisance at the shrine dedicated to Vavaru Swamy, (a Muslim warlord and leader who legend says fought on the side of the mythical Ayyappa and reckoned to be the deity’s comrade-in-arms and mind), before praying in front of the presiding deity”, he said.

Mr. Vijayan said the LDF government would protect Sabarimala’s secular traditions, its religious and social inclusivity and openness to people of different faiths. “Sabarimala broadcasts a universal message of communal amity and fraternity. People across the globe and the country embraced Sabarimala’s core philosophy. Hence, the TDB has organised the coming together of Ayyappa devotees”, he added.

The TDB has invited over 3,000 delegates, including politicians, leaders of various social organisations, spiritual leaders, writers, activists, social workers, and Chief Ministers of different states.

TDB Minister V.N. Vasavan had called on Mr. Stalin and Mr. Udhayanidhi and extended the government’s invitation. Mr. Stalin later delegated two of his colleagues to represent him at the Sanghamam.