Shani temple row: Swamy extends support to women activists

Voicing support for women who were trying to enter the Shani Shingnapur temple of Maharashtra, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday said there should be no gender discrimination in regard to entry in temples.

"PTs :We must support women's demand for equal rights to men's for temple entry. Any Shastra sourced discrimination is amendable. Commies no!," Swamy tweeted.

Talking about his Hindutva outfit Virat Hindustan Sangam (VHS), he further stated that VHS stands for Hindu Renaissance and not Hindu revival.

Earlier, the activists of Ranragini Bhumata Brigade led by Trupti Desai were stopped from marching towards the temple by the police near Supa in Maharasthra.

They were also detained by the police for some time but were later released.

After being stopped by the police near Supa in Maharasthra, activist Trupti Desai said that it was a black day for women as they were being stopped from exercising their rights.

The temple drew attention in November 2015 after a woman had offered prayers at the popular shrine in 'breach' of the age-old practice of prohibiting entry of women, after which the temple committee had to suspend seven security men and the villagers to perform purification rituals.

The temple platform attracts millions of tourists and devotees from across the country and abroad.