Sabarimala temple updates: Ayyappa devotees stop women's entry, 20 detained

BJP, RSS, Congress and Hindu groups are up in arms against SC ruling lifting the ban on entry of women in Sabarimala Temple. Catch top developments at Business Standard

Tension is brewing in some parts of Kerala hours ahead of the opening of the ancient Sabarimala Temple for monthly prayers Wednesday with devotees opposing the Supreme Court order stepping up protests and police taking some of them into custody.

Two women devotees could not proceed to the shrine after protests against the decision to allow women in the menstruating age into the Ayyappa shrine.

A woman from Andhra Pradesh, in the below 50 year age group, who tried to climb the Sabarimala Hills to reach the Lord Ayyappa temple, returned to Pamba following protests by male devotees.

She was provided security by the police to climb the hills but was forced to return after protests.

A woman from Alappuzha district, said to be in the below 50 years age group, who was on the way to Sabarimala armed with the Supreme Court order was stopped from proceeding at the Pathanamthitta bus terminal by passengers.

Here are top 10 developments on Sabarimala temple row

1. Over 20 people including former Travancore Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan taken into custody in Nilakkal and Pamba for protesting against entry of women in age group 10 to 50 to #Sabarimala temple.

2. Subramanian Swamy backs SC decision

Supreme Court has made a decision, but now you are saying that it's our tradition. Triple Talaq was also a tradition in that way, everybody was applauding when it was abolished. The same Hindus have come to the streets now, said Subramanian Swamy.

It's a fight b/w Hindu Renaissance and obscurantism. Renaissance says all Hindus are equal& caste system should be abolished. Because no Brahman today is only intellectual, they're in cinema,business as well. Where is it written that caste is from birth?Shastras can be amended, he added.

3. Security beefed up at Nillekal: Total 1,000 security personnel, 800 men and 200 women, deployed at Nillekal and Pampa base. 500 security personnel deployed at Sannidhanam.

None will be stopped from going to Sabarimala, says police

"There is a very strong police presence in and around Sabarimala," Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra told the media here as a police force of over 1,000 personnel took position in Nilackal and Pamba -- the foothills of the famed Lord Ayyappa temple.

"None would be stopped nor would anyone be allowed to take law into their hands. Sabarimala is safe and anyone can come and pray," the police chief added.
 

4. Woman attempts suicide: A woman attempted to hang herself from a tree in Thiruvananthapuram in protest against the Supreme Court's verdict over the entry of women of all age group in #SabarimalaTemple. She was saved by locals and the police.

5. Devotees unsure of today's schedule": Devotees of Lord Ayyappa who had gathered at Nilakkal, the base camp of Sabarimala temple said, "We are facing problems as the administration is not giving clear answers on when doors will open."

6. Kerala CM hits out at Congress, BJP:  Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused the BJP and Congress of trying to destroy the state's secular fabric by politicising the issue. "The Congress has joined the BJP in trying to drive a wedge between the devotees and the government and they are trying to break the secular tradition of our state," he said.

7. Mass suicide: Kerala unit of Shiv Sena threatened to stage mass suicides if women enter the temple. P Aji, a senior Shiv Sena leader, said that their "suicide squads" comprising men and women above 50 are ready for the supreme sacrifice.

Aji warned, "Our members will be stationed around Sabarimala temple and if women who are barred try to enter gates, then our suicide squad will engage in mass self-killing."

8. BJP warned Kerala govt to resolve Sabarimala row in 24 hrs: Kerala BJP President PS Sreedharan Pillai warned the Left government to resolve the issue of women visitors or face "severe consequences". "We give him 24 hours to resolve the issue. If he fails to do it, then he should be prepared to see a different type of protest from us. We will make it very clear that we are not trying to make political capital through this campaign," said Pillai.

9. Petitioner Rahul Eswar Sabarimala row: We want to adopt a Gandhian protest where thousands of people will be laying down on the road. If people want to intrude in our belief, they should do so by stepping on our chests. This is a cry and plea for respecting our sensitivities. Our mothers, grandmothers and sisters are all protesting, praying and fasting across 12 states. We ask for 5 days as we are to go to the Supreme Court on 22nd of the month. We are going to guard our shrine.

10. The temple opens on Wednesday at 5 pm for the customary monthly pujas.