Protests at Sabarimala as two new women try to enter shrine

For centuries, menstruating women had been banned from entering the temple in devotion to Lord Ayyappa.  

After they crossed the base camp, protesters reportedly surrounded the two women and prevented them from moving furthers upwards.

Reshma and Sanila, residents of Kannur, covered almost half of the 5.5-kilometre trek to the hilltop shrine but were intercepted by angry devotees in the morning. They used the lean time in the early hours to dodge protesters and started trekking at 5 am, reported Hindustan Times.

The women were later taken to safety by the police.

Women who made history:

Kanaka Durga, 39, and Bindu Ammini, 40, were the first women to enter the temple after the Supreme Court had lifted the ban on women's entry into the Sabarimala temple declaring the relevant rules as unconstitutional.

After the women's entry,  the temple was closed for "purification rituals", a move that was slammed by various outfits saying it was practising untouchability. 

Modi attacks Kerala government:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday slammed Kerala's Left-led government over the Sabarimala Temple issue.

Attending two launch projects in Kollam, PM Modi said: "The CPM government's conduct on Sabarimala will go down in history as the most shameful action of any government in power... We know CPM government never respected spirituality, religion... but no one thought it would turn so shameful."

Why is the controversy?

On Sept 28, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court had lifted the ban on women's entry into the Sabarimala temple declaring the relevant rules as unconstitutional.

Following the top court's verdict, the shrine opened on Oct 18 for the first time allowing menstruating women, belonging to the age group of 10 to 50, to enter the temple.

However, several men and women had protested outside the temple, and tried to prevent the entry of women in the shrine.