Police unleashing violence on Ayyappa devotees, alleges BJP

BJP national secretary H Raja Thursday alleged that police personnel were unleashing violence against Lord Ayyappa devotees at Sabarimala and demanded resignation of Kerala chief minister Pinaryi Vijayan.

Amid continuing protests against the entry of women of menstrual age into the hill shrine, Raja, who has courted controversies for his remarks, said akin to exemptions given to some mosques in restricting women, Sabarimala should be exempted too.

"Policemen are indulging in violence. They are hurling stones at devotees. Are you (LDF government) not ashamed?" he asked and demanded that Vijayan tender his resignation.

Speaking to reporters here, Raja said the Sabarimala imbroglio would come to an end only with the ouster of the LDF government.

The BJP leader asked if all women went to mosques.

"So, sentiments of Hindus must be respected too," he said, adding that BJP would stand by protesters.

He also hit out a Delhi-based woman journalist, who on Thursday attempted to trek to the shrine, saying the temple "is not a lodge or a restaurant."