Clashes broke out outside the Kerala secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram between activists of the BJP’s youth wing and the ruling Left after two women broke tradition and offered prayers at the Sabarimala temple on Wednesday. Police used stun grenades, tear gas shells and water cannons to bring the situation under control.
The Supreme Court had overturned the ban on women of the menstruating age – between 10 and 50 years – from entering the Sabarimala shrine. But despite repeated attempts, protesters (including women) have prevented over a dozen women for the past three months from entering the shrine.
There were protests all over Kerala as the news spread that the two women in their early 40s – Bindu and Kanaka Durga – were escorted by the police and taken to the shrine early this morning. They had earlier been stopped by protesters.
One of the women spoke to the media saying they had offered prayers from the VIP lounge and did not climb the 18 sacred steps to the shrine. They had started their climb from the Pamba base camp around midnight and left after offering prayers to Lord Ayyappa early in the morning.
After the women had left, the temple was closed for over an hour for a “purification” ritual. This ritual has been criticised from several quarters, with Kerala minister EP Jayarajan saying that it amounted to contempt of court as “untouchability is against the law”.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed the visit by the two women. “It is a fact that the women entered the shrine. Police are bound to offer protection to anyone wanting to worship at the shrine,” he said.
There were clashes in several parts of the city and some policemen were injured too as they were attacked by stones. The BJP staged protests, displayed black flags and even blocked roads.
Significantly, the women’s entry to the temple comes a day after lakhs of women in Kerala participated in a 620-km long “women’s wall” formed to send across the message of gender equality.
