Kerala government mulls change in temple rules

Kerala's Left Democratic Front government on Friday said it is prepared to make timely changes in temple rules since "its policy is to allow all those who believe in Hindu gods to worship in temples."

Disclosing this in a written reply to the state Assembly, Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran said the government would explore the possibilities of amending the existing temple rules.

"The government is of the view that all those who have faith in Hindu gods and temples should be allowed to have darshan," he said.

The question of temple entry rights for all believers has been a hotly debated topic since Sudhakaran wrote to the Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple authorities to consider the possibility of allowing singer K J Jesudas in to the shrine.

The issue snowballed into a major controversy after the purification ritual conducted in the temple following the visit of Union Minister Vayalar Ravi's son Ravikrishna to the shrine, on the ground that his mother hailed from a Christian family.

While pro-Left groups, like Communist Party of India-Marxist's youth outfit DYFI, have been campaigning for radical changes in the temple customs and rules, organisations like Nair Service Society and Yoga Kshema Sabha have cautioned the government against rushing into any hasty decision on a sensitive issue like this.