Sabarimala row: Hindutva outfits urge media not to send female journalists

With clouds of protests already covering the Sabarimala temple, opening on Monday, Hindu outfits have urged media houses not to send female journalists to cover the event.

This is for the second time that the gates of Sabarimala temple are opening on Monday, after the Supreme Court order which allowed women from 10-50 years to enter the shrine. Though the order was passed by the apex court, women devotees — above 10 and below 50 years — couldn’t enter the shrine due to massive protest by the Hindutva groups from October 17 to October 22.

The Supreme Court in its order on September 28 had clearly stated that women devotees should not be restricted from entering the shrine, but despite security cover they were not able to enter the temple. Even female journalists were attacked and they had to return back, without Lord Ayyapa’s darshan.

Acting tough, the Left Democratic Front-led Pinarayi Vijayan government arrested over 3,000 protesters and lodged cases against 529 ‘rioters’. Politics over the arrest grew with Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah and Kerala CM indulged in ‘war of words’.

Claiming that Kerala government has misused the Sabarimala issue, Shah had stated, “Today in Kerala a struggle is going on between religious beliefs and state government’s cruelty. The Left government in Kerala has misused the Sabarimala issue. They have used it to arrest workers and supporters of the BJP and other political parties. They have jailed thousands of party workers.”

Adding more he had said, “I warn Kerala’s communist chief minister, don’t oppress devotees in the name of implementing the Supreme Court judgment. It’s a well-planned conspiracy to destroy the sanctity of temples in Kerala by the communists.”

Replying back to the above comments, Vijayan said, “Amit Shah’s statements (on #Sabarimala issue) in Kannur are against constitution and law of the land. It’s a clear intention of their agenda of not to guarantee the fundamental rights. This shows the agenda of the RSS and sangh parivar.”

It is to be known that 12 women devotees tried to enter the premise of the shrine, but were restricted by the protesters — including priests. It will interesting whether women devotees would be able to enter the temple or not on Monday, despite Supreme Court order.

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