A Dalit woman activist, who was planning to visit the Sabarimala shrine on Saturday, has put her plans on hold following heavy rain and is camping here, as another woman was stopped from entering the temple by devotees who thought she was under 50. PTI
A group of BJP workers was arrested in Nilackal for violating section 144 of CrPC that has been clamped in the area in view of the protests by Ayyappa devotees against the entry of women of all age groups into the ancient Sabarimala temple.
Meanwhile, a member of the Travancore Devaswom Board criticised the statement issued by the Sabarimala temple tantri (chief priest) that the shrine would be shut down in case its traditional customs are broken. PTI
A massive protest by devotees of Lord Ayyappa broke out near the Sabarimala Sannidhanam on October 20 following rumours that a woman from Tamil Nadu below 50 years of age climbed the hills to offer prayers to the presiding deity.
The situation turned tense in the area, where section 144 was clamped, as devotees gathered in large numbers at 'Valiya Nadapandhal' to protest against the woman's entry into the temple.
However, the tension was defused after the woman, who had come with her family members, convinced the protesters that she was above 50 years, and proceeded to the shrine. (PTI)
Rajnikanth: I welcome Sabarimala verdict but tradition must be followed and respected. (News18)
Fivewomen reportedly attempting the hike to the hilltop, reports Hindustan Times
Protesters allowed a 52-year old woman to enter after mistakenly stopping her on the trek to the hilltop. The woman had to show her Aadhaar card to prove her age. (Hindustan Times)
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury demanded to know why the Centre was not applying the yardstick of equal treatment of women it used on the triple talaq issue to the Sabarimala row and blamed the BJP for whipping up communal passions for electoral gains.
The top Marxist party leader said roughing up of women journalists and the stir led by groups wearing saffron head bands at Sabarimala indicated a pattern seen during the demoliton of Babri masjid (1992) and blamed the RSS for it. (PTI)
Police officers escort activist Rehana Fathima, who made an attempt to enter Sabarimala temple earlier in the daywith journalist Kavitha Jakkal. The duowas forced to return after the priest of the temple refused to open the temple for them. (Image: Reuters)
Siddaramaiah
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah said that "we should all bow down to the Supreme Court's decision on women's entry into the Sabarimalatempleas per the Constitution."
Devaswom board President A Padmakumar told CNN-News 18 that the board has decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court, saying “We want to end this standoff.”
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi will be representing the temple board in the top court, Padmakumar said. Abhishek Manu Singhvi is also a national spokesperson for the Congress Party.
Requesting all stakeholders for a meeting, the Kerala Devaswom Board President A Padmakumar said that the "situation is serious" and that the board has decided to prepare a detailed report and approach the Supreme Court. "We will file a report with High Court," Padmakumar added.
"Sabarimala should not be used as a hot bed for politics... We want peace... we don't want Sabarimala to be a protest site..." Padmakumar said, adding that the board is determined to end the standoff.
