Thiruvalla/Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala's hilltop shrine Sabarimala became the site of huge protests for the third day today. The BJP went on the warpath following the arrest of a leader, Congress leaders are on way to the hill shrine, saying they want to check the security arrangements, and a woman, who was forced to stop her journey midway last month, is making another attempt.
Thiruvalla/Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala's hilltop shrine Sabarimala became the site of huge protests for the third day today. The BJP went on the warpath following the arrest of a leader, Congress leaders are on way to the hill shrine, saying they want to check the security arrangements, and a woman, who was forced to stop her journey midway last month, is making another attempt.
Since morning, BJP supporters have blocked roads and highways in many parts of the state, protesting the arrest of its state chief K Surendran. Around 150 of them are camping out at the city centre in Thiruvalla, a town 90 km from Sabarimala.
Mr Surendran was detained last evening at the Nilakkal base camp when he was seen heading for the hill-top shrine of Lord Ayyappa. When he and his supporters refused to turn back, he was arrested as a "preventive measure" by the police. He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days.
Kerala had observed a 12-hour shutdown yesterday against the arrest of a right-wing leader. KP Sasikala, the state president of Hindu Aikya Vedi, was for trying to create law and order problems, police said.
The Sabarimala temple had opened on Friday for the third time in a month for the two-month long pilgrim season.
Three leaders from the opposition Congress are expected to reach Pamba later today.
For two consecutive months since a Supreme Court order opened the temple doors for women of all ages, no woman have been able to reach the temple. Protesters, allegedly backed by the BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, have threatened, heckled and turned away every woman who attempted the journey.
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The protests intensified after the temple's head priest threatened that he would shut the temple if any young woman managed to make her way inside. Earlier this month, a video surfaced that showed state BJP leader Sreedharan Pillai claiming that the thantri, or head priest, had consulted him before making the announcement. The chief priest has denied any such conversation.
Since morning, BJP supporters have blocked roads and highways in many parts of the state, protesting the arrest of its state chief K Surendran. Around 150 of them are camping out at the city centre in Thiruvalla, a town 90 km from Sabarimala.
Mr Surendran was detained last evening at the Nilakkal base camp when he was seen heading for the hill-top shrine of Lord Ayyappa. When he and his supporters refused to turn back, he was arrested as a "preventive measure" by the police. He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days.
Kerala had observed a 12-hour shutdown yesterday against the arrest of a right-wing leader. KP Sasikala, the state president of Hindu Aikya Vedi, was for trying to create law and order problems, police said.
The Sabarimala temple had opened on Friday for the third time in a month for the two-month long pilgrim season.
Three leaders from the opposition Congress are expected to reach Pamba later today.
For two consecutive months since a Supreme Court order opened the temple doors for women of all ages, no woman have been able to reach the temple. Protesters, allegedly backed by the BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, have threatened, heckled and turned away every woman who attempted the journey.
1 COMMENT
The protests intensified after the temple's head priest threatened that he would shut the temple if any young woman managed to make her way inside. Earlier this month, a video surfaced that showed state BJP leader Sreedharan Pillai claiming that the thantri, or head priest, had consulted him before making the announcement. The chief priest has denied any such conversation.