The Kerala Government decided to withdraw all non-serious criminal cases in connection with agitations against the enactment of the Supreme Court verdict on the entry of women of all ages at the Sabarimala Temple.
The cabinet that met on Wednesday, February 23, took a decision in this regard. It also decided to withdraw the cases against those who protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
The state had seen large-scale violence and several shutdowns in 2018 in the Sabarimala issue. The police had booked more than 50,000 people in connection with this. The Left Government is alleged to have taken such a decision with the Congress and the BJP again highlighting the issue ahead of assembly polls. Moreover, some organisations, especially the NSS had come out against the government in the issue.
The NSS had recently asked the government to withdraw cases against the person who had peacefully participated in prayer meetings. The NSS also welcomed the decision.
However, the government said that major cases related to Sabarimala issue will go on. The cases against wide spread destruction of public property and attacks on Police will stay.
Welcoming the decision, BJP state president K Surendran demanded the government to withdraw all the cases in sabarimala issue.
On the Citizenship Amendment Act, the Indian Union Muslim League, a coalition partner of the Congress led UDF, said that the government had no other choice on the eve of elections. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala opined that the decision of the government to withdraw the cases was a ‘wisdom that dawned late’ on the ruling front.
