Kochi, October 27: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Saturday threatened to topple the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala over arrests of Lord Ayyappa devotees who protested against the Supreme Court's verdict on women's entry into Sabarimala temple, drawing sharp reactions from the state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Addressing a gathering in politically sensitive Kannur district, Shah said: "We [the BJP] will uproot this government if it continues arresting people who protested the Supreme Court verdict [on women’s entry into the Sabarimala]." "What's happening now is Ayyappa devotees are being taken to task and this will not be allowed at all," Shah added. Amit Shah Backs Sabarimala Devotees, Slams Kerala Government on Arrest of Protesters.

Shah criticised the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to Sabarimala temple and said the court should not pass verdicts that go against the religious faith of the people and "can't be implemented" on the ground. In a hard-hitting speech after inaugurating the new Kannur district BJP office, he flayed the Vijayan government's handling of the situation following the verdict.

Targetting the Vijayan-led LDF government for allegedly committing atrocities on Hindutva activists on the pretext of implementing SC judgements, Shah said there were judgments banning Jallikattu, using loudspeakers in mosques and curbing the dahi-handi event in Maharashtra which could not be implemented on the ground. Sabarimala Row: 'Feeling Proud,' Says Kavitha Jakkal, Hyderabad Journalist Who Almost Entered Sanctum Sanctorum.

Asking Vijayan to resign for his "failures", Shah said that instead of committing atrocities on those opposing the entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 years in the Sabarimala temple, the Chief Minister should focus on state's development.

Reacting to Shah's remark, Pinarayi Vijayan said the BJP wants to sabotage people's mandate. "Amit Shah who threatened to topple our government should remember that this government came to power, not at the mercy of BJP, but the people’s mandate. His message is to sabotage the people’s mandate," Vijayan wrote on Facebook.

"Amit Shah's statements (on Sabarimala issue) in Kannur are against constitution and law of the land. It's a clear intention of their agenda of not to guarantee the fundamental rights. This shows the agenda of the RSS and Sangh parivar," the chief minister added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 27, 2018 06:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).