Govt should not interfere in rituals of temples: Chandy

Kozhikode, Aug 22 (PTI) With the ruling LDF supportingthe entry of women of all ages in the Sabarimala hill shrine,former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said thegovernment should not interfere on issues relating to customsand rituals of temples. "Decisions on such issues should be taken by eligiblepersons after holding discussions at appropriate platforms.The ministries have been created and ministers appointed forthe convenience of governance and not to take decisions onrituals and customs," he told reporters here. The freedom provided to other religions to follow theircustoms and rituals should also be given to Hindus and acontroversy should not be created on the rituals of the hillshrine of Sabarimala. "As the government is not interfering in the beliefs ofother religions, it should not interfere in Hindu beliefsalso," he said. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had on August 18, duringa review meeting of various facilities at the hill shrine ofSabarimala, suggested that the practice of providing specialdarshan for VIPs at the temple should be done away with andthat the Tirupati temple model queue system for pilgrims needsto be introduced. He also wanted the shrine be kept open on all the daysin a year. However, his suggestions were turned by PrayarGopalakrishnan, President of Travancore Devaswom Board whichmanages the world famous shrine, and heated exchange followedbetween them. Responding to queries on the LDF government’s reportedplan to formulate a media policy, the Congress leader said itwas not right to put restrictions on media in a democraticsystem. "Freedom of the press is an important aspect of thedemocratic system. In a democracy, it is not right to putrestrictions on media," he said. PTI KV RCSMN