Amid heightened security across the temple shrine, the Sabarimala temple is all set to reopen for the public on Monday evening for two days. The reopening of the temple comes just weeks after violent protests by several Hindu organisations against the Supreme Court verdict allowing women’s entry inside the temple.
Amid heightened security across the temple shrine, the Sabarimala temple is all set to reopen for the public on Monday evening for two days. The reopening of the temple comes just weeks after violent protests by several Hindu organisations against the Supreme Court verdict allowing women’s entry inside the temple.
As Hindu outfits have mobilised scores of protesters at the temple to prevent the entry of young women, orders banning assembly of four or more people have been imposed in Sabarimala and nearby areas, police said Sunday. Prohibitory orders have also been issued for the base towns of Pamba, Nilakkal, Erumeli and Elavunkal. Around 2,300 personnel, including a 20-member commando team and 100 women personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth ‘darshan’ and security of devotees.
The move has been criticised by the erstwhile royal family of Pandalam, the BJP and the Congress for such fortification. While Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asserted that the government was committed to implementing the SC order, Devaswom (temple affairs) Minister Kadakampally Surendran said no young woman had approached authorities so far seeking police protection to trek to the temple. “We will not allow women activists to go to the temple. They have ulterior motives. Such persons will be sent back from the base camps,’’ he said.
As Hindu outfits have mobilised scores of protesters at the temple to prevent the entry of young women, orders banning assembly of four or more people have been imposed in Sabarimala and nearby areas, police said Sunday. Prohibitory orders have also been issued for the base towns of Pamba, Nilakkal, Erumeli and Elavunkal. Around 2,300 personnel, including a 20-member commando team and 100 women personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth ‘darshan’ and security of devotees.
The move has been criticised by the erstwhile royal family of Pandalam, the BJP and the Congress for such fortification. While Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asserted that the government was committed to implementing the SC order, Devaswom (temple affairs) Minister Kadakampally Surendran said no young woman had approached authorities so far seeking police protection to trek to the temple. “We will not allow women activists to go to the temple. They have ulterior motives. Such persons will be sent back from the base camps,’’ he said.