The temple had opened on Friday evening for the 64-day annual pilgrimage season as the stand-off continued over the entry of women above menstrual age women into the shrine.
Over 68 people were taken into preventive custody at the Sabarimala Shrine late Sunday night after fresh protests broke out at the Nadapanthal area in the Sannidhanam. Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam called the situation in Kerala 'worse than emergency', adding that Section 144 was imposed for no reason.
Devotees gathered at the covered pathway to the temple on the second day of pilgrimage before being asked to leave. Due to the previous incidents of violence at the hill-top shrine, the police had imposed strict restrictions for devotees at the Sannidhanam, including not allowing them to stay back at night.
Police sources told PTI that 68 persons had been taken into preventive custody from the temple complex and brought to the Manniyar camp early this morning. Their details are being verified and their arrests have not been recorded yet.
BJP, RSS WORKERS PROTEST OUTSIDE CMs RESIDENCE AGAINST DETENTION OF DEVOTEES
A large number of BJP and RSS workers staged protest outside the official residence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan late Sunday night against the detention of devotees.
A large number of BJP and RSS workers staged protest outside the official residence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan late Sunday night against the detention of devotees. Simultaneous protests also were held across arious places across the state in Aranmula, Kochi, Kollam, Alapuzha, Ranni, Thodupuzha, Kaladi, Malappuram and Idukki among others.
Earlier on Sunday, the BJP observed 'protest day' in the state against the arrest of its general secretary K Surendran. Surendran, along with two others were taken into preventive custody after they forcibly tried to leave for the hill shrine at Sabarimala.
ALSO READ | Sabarimala row: BJP observes protests, block vehicles; Travancore Devaswom Board to file petition in SC today
BJP workers blocked traffic on the national highways for over an hour across the state protesting against the arrest and remand of Surendran. In Vatakara, a KSRTC bus was stoned, police said.
SITUATION IN KERALA WORSE THAN EMERGENCY, SAYS UNION MINISTER ALPHONS KANNANTHANAM
Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam on Monday alleged that the state government has turned Sabarimala into a battlefield. He also criticised the government for not providing basic facilities for pilgrims.
Ayappa devotees are not terrorists. The police action against the devotees must be reviewed. Kerala seems to be under police rule. The devotees are staging protest by chanting mantras. They should not be arrested. It is against democracy. Government is responsible for all the issues in Sabarimala,” said the minister.
“A situation worse than emergency is happening here. The devotees are not allowed to ascend the shrine. Section 144 has been imposed for no reason", Kannanthanam added.
IS KERALA UNDER THE RULE OF HITLER?, CONGRESS LEADER RAMESH CHENNITHLA HITS OUT AT KERALA CM OVER SABARIMALA ISSUE
Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala Monday attacked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the police action against Lord Ayyappa devotees at Sabarimala Sannidhanam and asked if Kerala was under the rule of Hitler.
The senior Congress leader alleged the government was trying to "brand" Ayyappa devotees as Sangh Parivar activists and thus helping RSS recruit people to its fold.
"It is police high-handedness. Innocent devotees who sought shelter at Valiya Nadappandhal (covered pathway) were also arrested. They all are not Sangh Parivar activists who reached there to create trouble. Is Kerala under the rule of Hitler (Nazi ruler Adolf Hitler)," Chennithala told reporters in Kochi.
He urged the government to take action only against protesters who reach the hill shrine for disrupting peace there.
Arresting real devotees, who climb the hills to offer prayers, could not be accepted, Chennithala said.
TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD FILES PETITION IN SUPREME COURT
The Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the shrine, will file a petition in the Supreme Court Monday seeking more time to implement the court's Sept 28 verdict allowing women of all ages to offer worship at the shrine, board president A Padmakumar said.
The Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the shrine, filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Monday seeking more time to implement the court's Sept 28 verdict allowing women of all ages to offer worship at the shrine, board president A Padmakumar said.
So far, no women in the 10-50 age group has sought police protection to trek the holy hills, though over 500 odd young women have made online bookings for darshan.
Facing flak over inadequate facilities and severe restrictions for devotees at the temple complex, Padmakumar also said no unnecessary curbs would be there and the "small issues" being faced now should be seen as "starting troubles".
Briefing reporters at Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday after a meeting with DGP Loknath Behara and M V Jayarajan, the Private Secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, he said the devotees would be allowed to perform the "Neyyabhishekam" ritual from 03.15 AM to 12: 30 PM daily.
"The police, board or government will not take any step causing hardships to the pilgrims", but police would take action against those coming to Sabarimala with an intention to protest, he said.
More parking facilities and bio-toilets will be provided at Nilackal and Pamba, he said. Meanwhile, the State Human Rights Commission observed that there was gross violation of human rights of the devotees and directed authorities to ensure all necessary basic facilities for them and sought a report within two weeks.
The temple had opened on Friday evening for the 64-day annual pilgrimage season as the stand-off continued over the entry of women above menstrual age into the shrine. So far, more pilgrims have arrived from other states than from within Kerala.
The temple complex and nearby areas had witnessed protests by devotees when it was opened for monthly pujas for eight days in October and early this month against the LDF government's decision to implement the apex court verdict allowing women in the previously banned 10-50 age group to
pray at the shrine.
Earlier on September 28, in a 4:1 verdict the five-member constitution bench, headed by the then Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra lifted the decade-old ban, paving the way for the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple.
Since the September 28 verdict, large-scale protests and counter-protests have brought Kerala to a standstill.
