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Sabarimala row Highlights: Woman at base camp has 14 cases against her, is going back, say police
A Dalit woman activist, who was planning to visit the Sabarimala shrine Saturday, told the Kerala police she would retreat shortly after her journey was stalled following heavy rain at the hilltop.Earlier in the day, another woman was stopped from entering the temple by devotees who thought she was under 50. She was allowed to proceed when she showed her identity card which proved her age.Saturday was the fourth day since the temple gates were opened for the monthly puja after the Supreme Court last month lifted a ban on women between 10 and 50 years entering the Lord Ayyappa shrine.Here are the highlights:
6:51pm IST
Woman tells Kerala police she is going back
Kerala police say SP Manju has 14 cases against her and that she told them she is going back.
6:19pm IST
I don’t understand devotees’ stand: Kamal Haasan
“It won’t be proper to seek an opinion from me on this matter. I will stay in the centre and say about things good for women. I don’t understand the (Ayyappa) devotees’ stand. So it is better not to interfere in that,” he told reporters.
When asked about the Supreme Court verdict not being “respected” by Kerala in this case or by Karnataka in the Cauvery water dispute with Tamil Nadu, Haasan shot back saying “one can’t say Kerala (government) is not respecting” the judgement.
“It is a different thing if people don’t respect it,” he said in an apparent reference to the stiff resistance and protests by Ayyappa devotees at Sabarimala to the entry of women into the shrine.
“In Karnataka, the government is not respecting and in this case people are not respecting. There is a difference between the two,” he added.
4:59pm IST
Police reportedly told the woman she could try another day
Police reportedly told SP Manju she could try another day.The temple is open for monthly pooja. It will be close on October 23.
4:55pm IST
Woman will not be taken to hilltop today
SP Manju will not be taken to the hilltop today. Police cite heavy rains and inclement weather.
4:37pm IST
Rahul Eswar shifted to hospital
Rahul Eswar, who is on a fast, has been shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College hospital after his condition deteriorated.
4:25pm IST
Chief priest against entry of women
Kandararu Rajeevar, the chief priest, said on Friday he would close the temple and give the keys to the administrators if women in restricted age group came for ‘darshan’ (worshipping) of the deity.
4:10pm IST
Tensions ran high at Sabarimala on Friday
Friday when two women reached the hilltop with heavy police escort, but had to return before reaching the sanctum sanctorum following massive protests by Lord Ayyappa devotees.
Tension was defused after the women agreed to return as the state government made it clear it did not want to take them to the Sannidhanam, the temple complex, by using force against the protesting devotees.
3:47pm IST
Heavy rains in Sabarimala
Heavy rains lash Sabarimala and surrounding areas, making the police’s task more challenging.
3:15pm IST
No one should interfere in temple traditions: Rajinikanth
When you talk about a temple, every temple has its time honoured rituals, besides traditions being followed for a long time. My humble opinion is that no one should interfere in that: Superstar Rajinikanth, reports PTI.
3:00pm IST
Police officials hold meeting
High-level police meet in Pambha. ADGP Anil Kanth and IGs Sreejith and Manoj Abraham meet to decide whether to take SP Manju or not.
2:32pm IST
Pambha tense again
Pambha tense again as protesters gather.
2:30pm IST
Dalit leader arrives
Kerala Dalit Mahila Federation leader SP Manju, 38, arrives in Pambha for trekking to the hilltop. Police may escort her. She has come in traditional attire carrying irumudi kettu, the mandatory offering of coconut, camphor, incense stick, raw rice and flowers.
2:20pm IST
Nilakkal tense again
BJP leaders court arrest defying section 144 at Nilakkal. BJP general secretary AN Radhakrishnan and party spokesperson JR Padmakumar have been held. The BJP said imposing section 144 at the Sabarimala base camps were uncalled for. The protesters had sneaked in wearing the traditional black attire of Ayyappa devotees.
1:50pm IST
Rahul Easwar serious, says wife
Rahul Easwar,who is on fast, is serious, says his wife Deepa. She said doctors told her that he may be shifted to Thiruvananthapuram medical college. She said he was treated badly after arrest and bundled in a tractor and taken to the police station.
1:35pm IST
Rahul Easwar’s bail plea rejected
Pathanamthitta court rejects bail plea of activist Rahul Easwar. He was arrested on Thursday for sitting on dharna at Pambha. Earlier his wife Deepa had said he was on fast in jail.
1:25pm IST
Protest wrong: TDB member
It is not fair to say that the temple will be locked. Moreover, the protest staged on Friday by temple staff and the tantri (chief priest) was wrong and an explanation will be demanded: TDB member KP Shankara Das, reports news agency IANS.
1:20pm IST
Should follow SC order: TDB member
It’s the Supreme Court that has directed that women within the age group of 10 to 50 will be allowed within the shrine’s sanctum sanctorum. Hence all are duty bound to adhere to it: Travancore Devasom Board (TDB) member KP Shankara Das, reports news agency IANS.
12:00pm IST
Rumours spread of more women attempting trek
Situation tense after rumours spread that five women are on their way to the temple with police.
11:55am IST
Aadhaar comes to rescue
The woman was forced to show her Aadhaar card to prove her age. She could continue with the trek after police assured protection. Later, some devotees were seen apologising for the trouble.
11:48am IST
Second visit to Sabarimala, says kin of woman blocked by protesters
The woman has been identified as Latha from Tiruchi in Tamil Nadu. Her husband said she is 52 years old and this is her second visit to the hilltop shrine. Latha is a college teacher by profession.
11:34am IST
Protesters admit mistake
It was a mistake to block her, protesters admit.
11:30am IST
Woman allowed after protesters convinced of age
Woman devotee moves ahead with police protection as protesters chant nama japam (hymns and mantras).She is allowed after the protesters are convinced that she is above 50.
11:20am IST
One more woman attempts hilltop trek
Pambha tense again after a woman started trekking to the hilltop. She told protestors that she is 52 but they insisted that she is not above 50.
9:08am IST
Heavy security at Nilakkal
#Kerala: Visuals of heavy security deployed at Nilakkal #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/m9mHXRALht
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2018
6:35am IST
Nine-year-old girl says ready to wait
Kerala:Janani,9-yr-old girl from Madurai,at #SabarimalaTemple with placard reading 'she'll come to temple again after 50 yrs of age.Her father says,"We don't know what SC ordered.Once my daughter completes 10 yrs of age,she'll wait till 50 yrs of age&then she can come to Ayyappa" pic.twitter.com/EziWdfFVta
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2018
6:20am IST
Devotees climb the sacred Pathinettam Padi to offer prayers
Kerala: Devotees climb the sacred Pathinettam Padi at #SabarimalaTemple to offer prayers. pic.twitter.com/Zt9Z6P71cB
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2018
6:00am IST
Devotees throng Sannidhanam to offer prayers
Early morning visuals from Kerala's #SabarimalaTemple : Devotees throng Sannidhanam to offer prayers. pic.twitter.com/N8YSqVjVpV
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2018
