Political parties, Hindu groups divided over Kerala High Court ban on meetings at Thekkinkadu Maidan
Political parties and Hindu organisations took divergent positions on the Kerala High Court’s order banning political meetings at Thekkinkadu Maidan during an all-party meeting convened
Political parties and Hindu organisations took divergent positions on the Kerala High Court’s order banning political meetings at Thekkinkadu Maidan during an all-party meeting convened by the Cochin Devaswom Board on Saturday over the court verdict. While the Congress, CPI(M), CPI, Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala Congress factions, Forward Bloc and several other political parties argued that the iconic ground should continue to remain a public space, the BJP maintained that temple rituals should not be disrupted but a solution should be found to ensure a public place for people.
Most political parties called for the verdict to be challenged with an appeal, arguing that the order would have far-reaching implications for democratic gatherings and public life in Kerala. In contrast, Hindu organisations, including the Kshethra Samrakshana Samithi, Poorapremi Sangham, Hindu Aikya Vedi, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), welcomed the High Court ruling. They said the sanctity of temple rituals must take precedence and argued the devaswom board’s primary responsibility was to protect the interests of devotees and preserve temple traditions.
Opening the meeting, Cochin Devaswom Board president K. Ravindran clarified that the gathering had been convened solely to inform stakeholders about the High Court’s order and not to decide whether the board should file an appeal against the judgment. Representatives of major political parties, religious and socio-cultural organisations attended the meeting and presented their views on the future of Thekkinkadu Maidan. The High Court recently prohibited political meetings at Thekkinkadu Maidan, the sprawling ground surrounding the Vadakkunnathan temple in the heart of Thrissur.
The verdict has sparked widespread debate, with political parties, cultural organisations and civil society groups expressing concern that it could restrict access to one of Kerala’s most significant public spaces for democratic expression.
The BriefWire