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Sabarimala protests Live updates: Activist Trupti Desai, agrees to return to Mumbai after 13-hour standoff at Kochi airport
Women’s rights activist Trupti Desai, who arrived in Kerala’s Kochi early on Friday to visit the Sabarimala temple, has agreed to return to Mumbai after a 13-hour long standoff. She was earlier blocked by angry protesters who laid a siege to the airport.Desai, who arrived in Indigo flight from Pune at 5 am, was not allowed to come out of the airport. Protesters lay on the road asking the police to take her over their bodies as tension gripped the area.:
6:08pm IST
Activist Trupti Desai agrees to return after 13-hour standoff at Kochi airport
Activist Trupti Desai, who was headed to Sabarimala, has agreed to return to Pune after 13-hour standoff at Kochi airport.
Trupti Desai to return to her hometown Pune tonight. She has been at the Kochi airport since morning as protesters did not allow her to proceed to #SabarimalaTemple. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/R6BomXn3Q8
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2018
5:27pm IST
People offer prayers at Sabarimala temple
#Kerala: #SabarimalaTemple opens for 62-day long Mandala Pooja-Magaravilaku annual pilgrimage season. pic.twitter.com/hTqqmVdzDg
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2018
5:00pm IST
Sabarimala Temple opens
SabarimalaTemple opens for 62-day long annual pilgrimage season, Mandala Pooja-Magaravilaku, amid heavy security.
3:47 pm IST
Trupti Desai should go back: Activist Rahul Easwar
“Trupti Desai should go back. She will have to step on our chests and walk over us if she wants to enter Sabarimala Temple,” said activist Rahul Easwar protesting outside Kochi airport.
Trupti Desai should go back. She will have to step on our chests and walk over us if she wants to enter #SabarimalaTemple: Activist Rahul Easwar protesting outside Kochi airport pic.twitter.com/QQoyzYVIVM
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2018
2:15 pm IST
Cochin international airport asks government to help end impasse
Cochin international airport asks government to help end impasse, says operation getting affected badly. Trupti Desai not willing to budge, said officials who talked to her. More than 9 hours passed since her arrival
12:46 pm IST
Trupti Desai’s visit a drama enacted by BJP, her trip sponsored by Maharashtra CM
Trupti Desai’s visit a drama enacted by the BJP, said Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran, adding her trip was sponsored by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis
11:32 am IST
Activist stuck at Kochi airport despite writing to Kerala CM, seeking police protection
Prior to her arrival, activist Trupti Desai wrote to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requesting for police protection right from the time she steps out of her plane at Kochi till she takes her return flight out of the state.
11:21 am IST
Taxi drivers have been threatened of vandalism if they offer us a drive: Trupti Desai
“We reached Cochin Airport at 4:30 am. Protests were being held outside. We booked taxi 2-3 times but drivers have been threatened that their vehicle will be vandalised if they offer us a drive. Police have said that we can’t go outside now,” said Trupti Desai.
11:00 am IST
Won’t return until darshan: Trupti Desai
“Police tried to evacuate us from another gate but protesters were there as well. Protests being held here. Does this mean protesters are scared that we’ll reach Sabarimala once we reach Nilakkal, or, are they trying to scare us? We won’t return until we have ‘darshan’,” said Trupti Desai
10:38 am IST
Trupti Desai adamant as police ask her to go back
Despite the police asking Trupti Desai to go back, she refuses to budge. Even the airport officials are worried as the standoff continues.
10:32 am IST
“Why is she so adamant on breaking the tradition of the temple?” protesters question Trupti Desai
“We won’t allow her to get out of the airport. Why is she so adamant on breaking the tradition of the temple? We are also adamant. We will not let her move out,” an angry female protester told the media, reports PTI.
10:05 am IST
Activist Trupti Desai blocked by protesters at Kochi airport
Activist Trupti Desai, who arrived in an Indigo flight from Pune at 5 am, was not allowed to come out of the airport.
Kochi: Trupti Desai, founder of Bhumata Brigade, having breakfast at Cochin International Airport as she hasn't been able to leave the airport yet due to protests being carried out against her visit to #Sabarimala Temple. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/ILDV7silTx
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2018
