Friday, the bunch of fakes was raised by its own petard. A list of ‘51’ land-fowl turned out mostly broiler chicken. Beseeched to please Supreme Court, Pinarayi’s Police gave the government a list of 51 women in age-group 10-50 who, the government claimed to “milords”, made it to Swami Ayyappan’s chamber because “we” followed top court diktat; so, By Ayyappa, "we" deserve a pat. Happens, instead of ‘pat’, Pinarayi got the bat, the Nipah-sort!

The ‘51’, part of the Virtual-Q, are in real life not what they were consigned to in digital denomination. With astounding imprecision, Kerala Police forgot to check age and, in one case, got a sex-change operation done without the guy in the know; presented in Supreme Court a ‘woman’ without his consent. Appears ‘consent’ of the male is not required in Sabarimala – that of man or deity!

Anyway, Pinarayi’s broiler-list is age-retarded. Kerala Police taking the maxim ‘Never ask a woman her age’ to remarkable heart. The list of “10-50 age women” who affidavit-ably made it to Swami Ayyappa’s presence was presented to CJI Ranjan Gogoi, who took a “teek” and said this, too, can wait like the 50 odd review petitions, what’s the big hurry?

It was only later, when media got hands on the list, did sieve leak and menopause. Most of the ‘51’ are over 51. If only Kerala Police had taken a moment to pause! Struck a Sherlock Holmes pose and vetted. The Sabarimala turmoil is well documented. Halfway into season, state government asked 10-50 age women to go digital and book day and date of arrival at shrine, police security assured.

Over 7,500 applied. Then, nothing. Except Trupti Desai at Kochi Airport and Namajapa. Thereafter, several young women tried their luck, including Kanaka Durga and Bindu Ammini. Every time failure. Finally, Kanaka Durga and Bindu Ammini in second attempt took staff-gate route and sneaked into the shrine. Pinarayi Vijayan broke the breaking news. Kanaka and Bindu become instant celebrities.

Nobody objected. Except temple tantri Rajeevraru, who conducted a purification ritual, and committed the most-despicable crime in the book: Untouchability in equal rights India. Now, there is news other nubile young female beat Kanaka and Bindu to august Ayyappa presence. And it’s Kanaka and Bindu running scared for life, seeking police protection.

Friday, Supreme Court ordered 24/7 police protection to Kanaka-Bindu. Two women who will be stalked and stared at legally! A slap on Kerala Police’s face for failure to keep promise to provide security to temple-going godless activists. The long story short is lives of Kanaka and Bindu are on the line. ‘Save Sabarimala’ became ‘Save Kanaka & Bindu.’

Late evening, after media tracked ‘51’ to Aadhar age and gender, CPM spokespersons unleashed Op-Cover-Up. Flustered by the faux pas, they chose bluster: “The list is copy of a section of the ‘Virtual-Q’. It is not the government’s responsibility to vet list; whether it had genuine or fake details. It is the person in the VQ who typed gender and age, why make a hue a cry over a “clerical error?”

Yeah, they also call such clerical errors “blatant lie” and “willful forgery”. Dodge and scam. Motive: Influence the Supreme Court to bump off the 50+ review petitions with “proof.” Unfortunately, the plan came unstuck and there are people calling Pinarayi “liar” and Kerala Police “willing accomplice.”

Over 7,500 in the Virtual-Q, and Kerala Police had to pick these 51! CM and DGP became gravediggers. By Friday evening they are six-feet under. If this is not divine retribution, what is? And all the while, the Ayyappa legend is growing. Those who belittle and betray Swami Ayyappa will pay for the sin in some coin – real or virtual, Crypto! (IPA Service)