Protests against women's entry in Sabarimala continue; prohibitory orders imposed
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 18 (IBNS): Police have imposed prohibitory orders in and around Kerala's Sabarimala Temple as the protest against the entry of menstruating women to the temple by several outfits continued even on Thursday, media reports said.
The temple was opened for women, aged between 10 and 50, for the first time on Wednesday since the Supreme Court verdict which allowed the entry of women devotees irrespective of their ages.
The protests have been on weeks and intensified as the date of opening neared. Since Wednesday morning, the protesters have been camping out at Nilakkal, the base from where the trek to the hilltop shrine begins. Others are holding fort at Pamba, from where the last stretch of the trek begins, NDTV said.
According to The Indian Express, two women who tried to undertake the 5-km trek from the base camp at Pamba river were forced to return after walking for a few metres after facing threats. The women, one from Andhra Pradesh, were among the first to try to reach the famous temple of Lord Ayyappa. Hundreds of policemen have been posted around the temple after devotees backing the ban screened buses and women were pushed, manhandled and violently turned away from the base camp at Nilakkal, around 20 km from the shrine.
As devotees made their way to the shrine, the police detained multiple protesters for blocking the pilgrims. Representatives of the Thandri (priest) family and members of the Pandalam Royal family were also detained.
The BJP, in a warning to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said, “The protest will change the face of Kerala.” Kerala BJP leaders also warned of “severe consequences” if the police lathicharge “Hindu devotees.”
The Supreme Court, while striking down the ban last month, said Lord Ayyappa "was not a separate denomination." "Religion cannot be the cover to deny women right to worship," said the court.
A petition has also been filed urging the top court to review its own order. However, the Supreme Court refused to hold an urgent hearing of the plea.
Vijayan has said his government will not give in to attempts to prevent women from entering the temple and police will help uphold the Supreme Court order. He has also said the government will not request a review of the order as "there should be no discrimination on the basis of gender".
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