Sabarimala Row: Protests over SC verdict continue, Muslim activist expelled from community for attempting to climb shrine
Kerala has been witnessing protests against the entry of girls and women of menstrual age into Sabarimala temple since the government had said it would abide by the ruling of the apex court.
Its been five days since the doors of the Sabarimala shrine opened to the devotees following the Supreme Court judgment allowing women of all ages to enter and there has been no end to the demonstrations. Earlier on Sunday morning two more women were blocked by violent protesters when they were just 200 metres away from the shrine. They had not sought police protection and turned back when they were issued threats by the protesters. Meanwhile, the devotee groups are protesting in large numbers outside the police station in Pamba.
HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS:
05:00 PM: The BJP on Sunday announced that it will launch a one-month long campaign across Kerala against the Supreme Court verdict that allowed women of all age groups to enter the Sabarimala Temple.
K Surendran, Kerala BJP General Secretary said, "There will be a month-long Sabarimala Aiyyappa Samrakshnaye Abhiyaan (Save Sabarimala Campaign) across Kerala. We will be going to every single booth, will visit every house and tell people about the importance of the sanctity of Sabarimala Temple."
4:33 PM: Activist Rehana Fathima, who had made an attempt to enter Sabarimala temple, has been expelled from the Muslim community for "hurting the sentiments of lakhs of Hindu devotees", the Kerala Muslim Jama'ath Council said.
Initiating action against Rehana, Kerala Muslim Jama'ath Council president A Poonkunju said in a press statement Saturday that she had been expelled from the community.He said the Council has also directed the Ernakulam Central Muslim Jama'ath to expel her and her family from the membership of Mahallu.
"Her act hurt lakhs of Hindu devotees," the statement said. Her act was also against the rituals of Hindu community, it said.
04:10 PM: The police have said they will give all the protection women devotees need to reach the temple without fear. "... But darshan is something which can be done with consent of the priest. We will give them whatever protection they want," said Kerala Inspector General S Sreejith, who on Friday led a police team that formed a protective ring around two women whose attempt to enter the temple did not succeed.
03:32 PM: Only nine women below 50 have tried to walk to the temple since Wednesday when it opened after the Supreme Court last month overturned a centuries-old ban on women between 10 and 50 years entering Sabarimala. Not a single woman has managed to reach the hilltop shrine.
02:36 PM: So far seven women have tried to enter the temple since the temple opened on 17 the of this month. Meanwhile, Sabarimala Karma Samiti is organising "namajapa" (prayer) protests to various police stations in the state protesting police action in Nilakkal and Pampa.
1:40 PM: Members of Hindu Makkal Katchi protest before Anna Nagar, Tamil Nadu aginst women who attempted to visit Sabarimala Temple; say "They are not clean. They spoiled the sanctity of celibacy of Lord Ayyappa. They're not devotees. They've come for publicity"
1:10 PM: Sentiment in that area has prevented SC's verdict to be implemented. It's true that the decision needs to be enforced but it's equally true that in a democracy overwhelming sensitivities relating to religious matters can't&shouldn't be avoided: Ashwini Kumar, Congress
12:55 PM: Kerala state police chief Loknath Behera said the police will conduct a review of the alleged police lapses while handling the issues related to Sabarimala after the doors ofthe shrine close on Monday after the monthly Pooja.He said the Sabarimala pilgrim season beginning next month was going to be a challenging one for them.
12:44 PM: BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai urged the state government to convene assembly session to discuss the issue. He claimed that even CPI(M) members in the state were opposing the bid to break the custom of the ancient shrine. CPI(M) politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai said the protesters did not have the support of the Kerala society.
12:37 PM: The Sabarimala Karma Samithi has decided to strengthen its agitation against the CPI(M)-led Kerala government's "hasty" move to implement the Supreme Court order. The Samiti has called for "namajapa yatra" (protest march chanting Ayyappa mantra) to police stations across the southern state against alleged police action on their activists.Hundreds of women participated in one such protest march held in Erumeli, a key pilgrim centre connected with Sabarimala.
12:30 PM: Woman suffers panic attacks as devotees surround her suspecting she is under 50 years. Kerala has been witnessing protests after the state government said it would implement the top court's order and facilitate women's entry to Lord Ayyappa's hilltop shrine. The woman is now being taken to Pamba hospital.
11:55 AM: Only eight women below 50 have tried to walk to the temple since Wednesday when it opened after the Supreme Court last month overturned a centuries-old ban on women between 10 and 50 years entering Sabarimala. Not a single woman has managed to reach the hilltop shrine.
11:30 AM: They were part of a pilgrimage group from Andhra. They had been to other temples also and didn't know of special rituals in Sabarimala Temple. When somebody told them they are not supposed to go, they did not want to go & gave a statement. They want to go back to Nilakkal: Kerala IG
11:25 AM: As the Sabarimala row in Kerala refuses to die down, Ayyappa devotees Sunday prevented two Telugu-speaking women from climbing the holy hills. The protesters chanting Ayyappa mantra stopped the women, said to be in their 40s, at the foothills itself. The women were accompanied by their relatives. The police, which took the women to safety, said that the duo informed the security forces that they came to Sabarimala without knowing the customs of the temple. The women were part of a pilgrims group visiting temples in Kerala. They have been taken to Nilakkal where their vehicle was parked, police said. The protesters, however, allowed other women in the above 50 age group to climb the holy hills. Meanwhile, the two women from Andhra Pradesh, gave in writing to the police that they did not want to break the centuries-old custom of the temple, sources said. Sunday is the fifth day since the temple gates were opened for the monthly puja after the Supreme Court last month lifted a centuries-old ban on women between 10 and 50 years entering the Lord Ayyappa shrine. Three women devotees were stopped by protestors on Sunday from going inside the temple. A 46-year-old woman, named Balamma, a native of Andhra Pradesh had reached up to "nadapandal" which is about 500 meters from the shrine. When the protesters spotted her and prevented her from entering. They circled her and asked for her ID card. When it was found that she is only 46-year-old they asked her to go back.
In the commotion the woman fell unconscious and was taken to Pampa in an ambulance. She had come with her family and entered without police protection. Situation still remains tense as protestors have camped at sannidhanam. Earlier in the day, two other women from Andhra Pradesh was also stopped by protestors when they entered about 200 mts towards the temple from Pampa. They were 41-year-old Vasanthi and 42-year-old Aadhiseshi . These women were taken to the guard room at pampa. Police had offered protection but the women said that they do not want to go further. Both of them went with familes initially and did not take police protection.
11:23 AM: The Kerala Police have stepped up security in Sabarimala and its nearby areas. Today is the fifth consecutive day after the temple gates were opened for the monthly puja after the Supreme Court lifted a centuries-old ban on women between 10 and 50 years entering the Lord Ayyappa shrine.
11:07 AM: Sabarimala Karma Samithi would reportedly take out Namajapa yatra to all police stations in the state of Kerala on Sunday.
11:03 AM: Two women enroute to Sabarimala temple were blocked by protesters and had to return to Pamba. They attempted to climb the hill without police protection, but had arrived with other male devotees. Both the women are from Andhra Pradesh and are in their 40s.
10:57 AM: Rituals being performed at Sannidhanam in Sabarimala
10:55 AM: The sixth woman who arrived at Pamba on Saturday, attempting to enter the holy shrine of Sabarimala, is the general secretary of a Kerala-based Scheduled Caste outfit. The woman had to halt her historic trek for the day because of heavy rains in the region. She would now resume the pilgrimage on Sunday under heavy police protection, provided she passes the ‘background check’. According to sources, certain cases are registered against the woman.
10:19 AM: Four days after the doors of the Sabarimala temple were opened following the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to enter, sixth women arrived at Pamba, attempting to enter the temple on Saturday. However, she was told that no police protection will be provided to her until a background check is completed to determine if she was an ‘activist.’
The Sabarimala temple opened for pilgrimage on Wednesday, the first day of the Malayalam month of Thulam. Unlike other Hindu temples in Kerala, Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha temple is not open the year-round but opens for its devotees for the first five days of every month in the Malayalam calendar, as well as during the annual ‘mandalam’ and ‘makaravilakku’ festivals between mid-November to mid-January. The temple will be closed on Monday after which the shrine is to be shut for the rest of the month.
Kerala has been witnessing protests against the entry of girls and women of menstrual age into Sabarimala temple since the government had said it would abide by the ruling of the apex court.
The agitation intensified since the shrine was opened for the five-day monthly pooja on October 17.
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.
The Centre on Friday asked the southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to tighten security in view of the continuing protests against the Supreme Court order allowing entry of women of all age groups to Sabarimala temple.