• News
  • India News
  • Two women agree to return as protesters block entry to Sabarimala: Top developments
This story is from October 19, 2018

Two women agree to return as protesters block entry to Sabarimala: Top developments

Two women, who had reached the entry point of Sabarimala temple on Friday decided to return after huge protests by devotees opposing the entry of girls and women of menstrual age into the Lord Ayyappa temple. The chief tantri had said that he will close the temple in case the women climb the 18 steps leading to the temple.
Two women agree to return as protesters block entry to Sabarimala: Top developments
Key Highlights
  • IG S Sreejith confirmed that the two women expressed their willingness to go back and they will be escorted by the police
  • The administration imposed a curfew in Illavungal and Sannidanam areas on Thursday which will continue to remain in force on Friday
NEW DELHI: As the protests over the Supreme Court verdict on entry of women in Sabarimala temple continue in Kerala, the hill shrine still remains out of bounds for women in the 10 to 50 age group. The restrictions put by the administration continue on Friday to ensure any untoward incident does not take place. Here are the top developments so far:
* Amid the stand-off between police and protesters, the two women, who had reached the entry point of the Sabarimala, returned from the temple as they were escorted by the police.

* IG S Sreejith said that the two women, a journalist and an activist, expressed their willingness to go back after the devotees and priests did not allow them to enter the temple.
* While talking to TOI, the temple tantri said that he is happy with the development. "I would have closed the temple if any women between the the age of 10-50 years entered. My responsibility is to respect and support the faithful," he said.
* Earlier, the priests also joined the protest on Friday while chanting Ayyappa mantra, and asked the two women to return. Sabarimala chief tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru had said that he will close the temple and give the keys to the Devaswom board in case the women climb the 18 steps leading to the temple.
* Another woman Mary Sweety, who also tried to reach Sabarimala temple, was blocked by the protesters. Mary, an NRI, had not sought any police protection.

*On Thursday, a New Delhi-based reporter of a foreign media outlet made a failed bid to visit the shrine. The woman was turned back by protesters despite a police cordon and prohibitory orders in place.
* Earlier on Wednesday, a woman devotee from Andhra Pradesh, who attempted the trek, was forced to return in a similar fashion following intimidation from angry protesters.
* With protesters continuing to disregard the apex court’s order, the administration imposed a curfew in Illavungal and Sannidanam areas on Thursday which will remain in force till Friday.
* Pathanamthitta district administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 for two days, but protesters in twos and threes, dressed in the traditional black of pilgrims and carrying irumudikettu (offerings to the deity Ayyappa) on their heads, caused trouble in several places on Thursday.
* On Tuesday, protesters stopped and checked vehicles, including state-run buses, and forcibly turned back female passengers in the 10-50 age group.
* The 12-hour hartal called by right-wing Hindu organisations, under the banner Karmaseva Samithi, slowed the progress of pilgrims on Thursday. State buses, which a majority of the pilgrims use, did not operate until noon on Thursday after buses were attacked and damaged the day before. Taxis stayed off roads fearing attacks.
* At Nilackal, members of the Bharatiya Yuva Morcha violated prohibitory orders and took out a march. They were arrested on Thursday afternoon.
* Buses were damaged at Kuttippuram, Chamravattom and Kalachal. One bus driver was injured. Two policemen were also injured in violence near Tanur.
* The Sabarimla head priest, Kandaru Rajeevaru on Thursday appealed to the women, belonging to the age group of 10-50 who were restricted as per the centuries-old traditions of the shrine, not to come to Sannidhanam and create problems.
* The state gvernment has maintained that it was duty bound to implement the Supreme Court order.
* The LDF government also accused the BJP, RSS and Congress of indulging in “double talk” and playing “dirty games” over the Sabarimala issue.
* RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had on Thursday said the Supreme Court verdict did not take into consideration the nature and premise of the tradition that has been accepted by society and has given rise to "divisiveness" in the society.
* On September 28, a five-judge Constitution bench of the SC, headed by then chief justice Dipak Misra, lifted the centuries-old ban on the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine.
(With agency inputs)
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA