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Sabarimala row highlights: On day 2, devotees enter Sannidhanam to offer prayers, keep women out
The doors to Kerala’s Sabarimala temple opened on Wednesday for the first time since the Supreme Court three weeks ago allowed women of all ages to enter the hilltop shrine, but female devotees were halted by a wall of resistance mounted by traditionalists who turned them away, intimidated journalists and clashed with the police.A 24-hour shutdown, called by the Sabarimala Samrakshna Samiti, began on Thursday morning even as pilgrims continued to make their way to the Lord Ayyappa shrine. However, women within the once-restricted age limit are yet to be seen entering the temple.
5:00 pm IST
Devotees enter Sannidhanam to offer prayers
Kerala: Devotees enter Sannidhanam to offer prayers at #SabarimalaTemple. pic.twitter.com/byeg9h7eIl
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
4:35 pm IST
BJP, Cong playing dirty politics over Sabarimala: CPI
CPI accused the BJP-RSS combine and Congress of indulging in “double-talk” and playing “dirty games” over the Sabarimala issue to target the Left government in Kerala by exploiting people’s sentiments.
CPI National General Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy termed as “very unfortunate” the protests in Kerala against the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages to the hill shrine.
“They (agitators) should respect the SC judgement in spite of the sentiment which they may be having (against it),” Reddy said.
“Gender equality has to be accepted in the 21st century. The old things cannot continue like this,” he told PTI.
2:13pm IST
Sabarimala pilgrims stranded
Shops, business establishments and educational institutes remain closed due to the bandh. Pilgrims are stranded at many locations since government vehicles have also kept off roads.
12:15pm IST
Police make arrests
BJP workers violate Section 144 at Nilakkal base camp. State Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morch president Pradesh Babu and 41 workers are arrested. Activist Rahul Eswar and 20 others also remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.
11:46am IST
Kerala CM takes on RSS over Sabarimala
In a Facebook post, Kerala chief minister hits out at RSS, saying the right-wing outfit is trying to destroy the secular fabric of the state. “It wants to make Sabarimala a flashpoint,” he wrote.
11:30am IST
BJP calls for judicial probe into violence
Kerala’s BJP chief PS Sreedharan Pillai says “attempts to destroy Sabarimala temple” were being made. Pillai also said the state temple affairs minister Kadakampally Surendran provoked violence, and called for a judicial probe into yesterday’s events.
11:15am IST
NYT journalist speaks to media
Suhasini Raj, who had to turn away halfway through the trek upto Sabarimala, says she was heckled while climbing the hill. “I thought things will be smooth after the verdict. I was besieged by a violent mob. They heckled me badly and tried to manhandle me. I wanted to avoid bloodshed,” she said. Raj later left for Kochi.
10:50am IST
Sabarimala’s Tantri appeals for peace
Sabarimala’s Tantri Rajeevaru Kandarau appeals to all to maintain peace. It is not proper to indulge in violence in the name of Lord Ayyappa, he says.
10:30am IST
SC took decision without accounting for devotees: RSS
Commenting on the Sabarimala row, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says the Supreme Court took a decision without taking into account believers. Sentiments have been hurt, Bhagwat says in his Vijayadashami speech in Nagpur.
9:10am IST
Bandh affects life in Kerala
Normal life affected in Kerala due to state-wide bandh. Police keep vigil as reports of stone-pelting come in.
8:04am IST
Woman journalist stops Sabarimala trek
As tension grows, Suhasini Raj says she won’t go further. Says she doesn’t want bloodshed. Raj is verbally abused by pilgrims around her.
7:40am IST
Woman journalist’s path blocked by devotees
Suhasini Raj, Delhi-based New York Times journalist, makes it to the halfway point. However, devotees begin blocking her path by lying down on the ground. They tell police to shoot them.
7:30am IST
Woman begins climbing Sabarimala hill
A woman journalist of the New York Times begins trekking to Sabarimala hill amid protests by devotees. Police have thrown a security ring around her and her colleague, a foreigner, reports PTI. Devotees try to block her.
7:15am IST
No women entering the Sabarimala temple
Sabarimala is peaceful and pilgrims are thronging the shrine. However, there are no women yet. Many groups said they will block women from entering the temple, irrespective of what the law says.
6:50am IST
Tension simmers on day 2 of temple being open
Signs of violence from yesterday an indication of what could transpire today. Buses, stoned by protesters, found at many places.
6:30am IST
Protesters say they will hold a sit-in dharna
Protesters warn they will hold a sit-in dharna and defy Section 144. Heavy deployment of police remains and government-run Govt buses have suspended service.
6:00am IST
24-hour shutdown begins
The Sabarimala Samrakshna Samiti called for a 24-hour shutdown, which began in the morning. Sabarimala remains peaceful, but towns leading to hilltop temple are tense. Section 144, which prohibits assembly of more than five people in a public space, has been imposed.
