Sabarimala temple row highlights: Third woman enters shrine amid protests; 1319 arrested, 801 cases registered
A 46-year-old Sri Lankan woman has become the third woman to offer prayers at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala after the Supreme Court ordered the end of a traditional ban on women of menstrual age entering the shrine.Two women in their 40s had defied the centuries-old ban on entering the Sabarimala temple on Wednesday, sparking violent protests and shutdown by conservative Hindu groups outraged by their visit.More than 1,000 people have been arrested in Kerala under a police operation “Broken Window” following Thursday’s shutdown over the entry of two women as political workers clashed with police and each other across the state.The situation remained tense on Friday amid reports of fresh violence.Highlights:
PM puts off Kerala visit after Sabarimala violence, 1,400 arrested
“The PM’s visit to Pathanmathitta on January 6 was postponed due to some other engagements. Though it has nothing to do with the current situation, we don’t want to aggravate the situation further,” a senior BJP functionary said. This was to be Modi first political rally in south India this year.
8:57 pm ISTBJP, Sangh Parivar outfits trying to suppress women: CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy
“They are against women.. As per Manu dharma shastra, they are trying to suppress women in the country. As part of it, they started this type of attacks,”said.CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy.
Alleging that BJP-RSS elements were trying to take advantage of the sentiments of some people in the name of tradition, he said, “They say it is a tradition. But this started only in 1991.” “Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it is a question of tradition. That means he is supporting it.
8:45 pm ISTBJP, Sangh Parivar outfits trying to exploit Sabarimala issue: CPI
The CPI Friday alleged that the BJP and other Sangh Parivar outfits were trying to expand their base in Kerala by exploiting the issue of entry of women of menstrual age into Sabarimala temple.
CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy accused the BJP and Sangh Parivar people of perpetrating violence in the name of opposing the entry of women into Lord Ayyappa Swamy temple.
8:23 pm ISTActivists protest against purification ritual following women’s entry
A group of human rights activist protested outside the Parliament House complex on Friday to express their strong objection to the “purification” rituals carried out by priests at Kerala’s Sabarimala temple after two women of menstruating age entered it on Wednesday.
All India Democratic Women’s Association, Students’ Federation of India and Democratic Youth Federation of India assembled on Rafi Marg and marched towards Parliament, according to a joint statement.
8:14 pm ISTKerala govt conspired to desecrate Sabarimala: RSS leader
The Supreme Court’s order on Sabarimala was only a suggestion, and the communist government in Kerala conspired to desecrate the temple by its faulty implementation, an RSS leader said.
“Kerala’s communist government conspired to desecrate the Sabarimala temple by assisting two atheist women communist activists to enter it under police escort,” said Nandakumar, convener of the RSS-affiliated Prajna Pravah.
8:09 pm ISTViolence incited by right wing: Actor-politician Kamal Haasan
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has squarely blamed the right-wing for “inciting” violence in Kerala after fringe groups ran riot in Kerala on Thursday over entry of two women into the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala.
“Violence has been incited by the right wing,” the veteran actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief told reporters at Chennai airport last night when asked about the issue.
7:12 pm ISTKerala govt conspired to desecrate Sabarimala: RSS
The Supreme Court’s order on Sabarimala was only a suggestion, and the communist government in Kerala conspired to desecrate the temple by its faulty implementation, an RSS leader said in Bhopal on Friday.
“Kerala’s communist government conspired to desecrate the Sabarimala temple by assisting two atheist women communist activists to enter it under police escort,” said Nandakumar, convener of the RSS-affiliated Prajna Pravah.
6:48 pm ISTSabarimala tantri given 15 days to explain why ‘purification’ ritual
The Travancore Devasom Board (TDB) -- custodians of the Sabarimala temple -- on Friday decided to seek an explanation from Kantararu Rajeeveru, the temple tantri, as to why they conducted a “purification ritual” on Wednesday, said a TDB official.
“The purification ritual is against the directive of the Supreme Court and hence we have asked him to explain. Further action will follow after going through his explanation,” said Padmakumar -- a former CPI-M legislator, handpicked by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as the TDB president.
6:31 pm ISTSabarimala Karma Samiti to intensify protests on women’s entry into Lord Ayyappa temple
Sabarimala Karma Samiti, an umbrella organisation of various pro-Hindutva groups, and the BJP decided to intensify their agitation against the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala over the women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple.
Alleging “mysterious link between CPI(M) and radical outfits to destroy” the traditions of the Lord Ayyappa temple, a meeting of the Samiti leaders on Thursday also sought an NIA probe into the entry of two women into Sabarimala temple with the support of a Maoist group, hurting sentiments of devotees of Lord Ayyappa.
4:19 pm ISTDevaswom Board seeks explanation from chief priest of SabarimalaTemple over purification rituals carried out after entry of two women
Devaswom Board seeks an explanation from chief priest of SabarimalaTemple over the purification rituals carried out after two women in their early 40’s entered the temple on January 2. The board has asked the priest of explain within 15 days.
3:57 pm ISTAmid protests, violence, Section 144 imposed in Nedumangad, Valiyamala for 3 days
Amid protests and violence in the state over entry of women into the hilltop shrine Sabarimala, Section 144, which prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area, has been imposed in Nedumangad and Valiyamala police station limits of Kerala for three days.
3:00 pm ISTCongress youth wing protest against Kerala CM in Thiruvananthapuram
Fewer than 100 members of the youth wing of the Congress party marched and shouted slogans against the chief minister in Thiruvananthapuram, reports Reuters.
2:10 pm IST717 taken into preventive detention
A total of 717 people were taken into preventive detention and 801 cases registered till Friday morning in connection with protest related violence over women entry in Sabarimala , reports ANI.
1:48 pm ISTProhibitory orders imposed in Palakkad town
Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Palakkad town and Manjeswaram Taluk of Kasargod district in northern Kerala late Thursday night.
12:59 pm ISTTotal of 1319 people arrested in Kerala
A total of 1319 people have been arrested following Thursday’s shutdown over the entry of two women in Sabarimla.
12:56 pm ISTCM Vijayan converted Sabarimala into clash zone: BJP’s Meenakshi Lekhi
If there is one person who has converted it into a clash zone, it is Mr Vijayan (Kerala CM). Mahilaon ko ‘hijra’ banakar lekar jana raat ko 1 baje, agar woh bhakt mahila thi toh din mein aana chahiye tha, lekin raat ko yeh karwahi ki gayi: BJP lawmaker Meenakshi Lekhi said outside the Parliament.
12:30 pm ISTPolice confirm Sri Lankan woman visited Sabarimala temple
Police confirmed Sasikala visited the temple and said she denied the report as part of a strategy to ensure her safe return. Closed-circuit television cameras also showed their presence at the temple.
Sasikala entered the temple ten minutes before it was about to close at 11pm on Thursday and was accompanied by her husband. She claimed her uterus was removed after an operation so she does not come under the category of menstruating women.
11:30 am ISTTemple traditions, devotees’ sentiments should be respected: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
11:18 am ISTWhen the matter is subjudice, no action should have been taken that would cause heartburn and turmoil in society. While Kerala has not left any stone unturned for it's women empowerment, the temple traditions and sentiments of devotees should be respected.
— Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (@SriSri) January 4, 2019
BJP MPs protest outside Parliament
BJP MPs are protesting outside the Parliament in New Delhi. They allege that police and CPM workers are targeting party activists and Ayyappa devotees.
11:00 am ISTTwo CPIM workers arrested
Two CPIM workers have been arrested under Sections 302 and 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for the death of Sabarimala Karma Samiti worker Chandran Unnithan at Pandalam, reports ANI.
10:50 am ISTThree SDPI workers arrested
Thrissur police have arrested three Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) workers in connection with the attack on BJP workers Thursday, reports ANI.
Police had said that three BJP activists were stabbed during a scuffle with workers of SDPI, the political wing of Popular Front of India, a militant Islamic outfit.
10:05 am ISTBJP office in Kannur set on fire
The BJP office in Kannur was set on fire and one person suffered some burn injuries. The party alleges police action one-sided and partial.
10:00 am ISTSecurity increased for Kerala CM
Security increased for Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in view of volatile situation in the state.
9:24 am ISTTight security at funeral site of activist killed in protest
Tight security at the funeral site of Sabarimala Karma Samiti activist Chandran Unnithan.
Unnithan, a 55-year-old activist of Sabarimala Karma Samiti, succumbed to his injuries early on Thursday after he was injured in a stone pelting incident in Pandalam area.
9:00 am ISTSabarimala Karma Samithi worker to be cremated today
Sabarimala Karma Samithi worker, Chandran Unnithan, who died of injuries in clashes will be cremated Friday.
8:55 am ISTHouses of BJP, CPM workers attacked
At least 50 houses of rival parties, primarily Bharatiya Janata Party and CPI(M) workers, were also attacked on Thursday night. In Adoor, 40 houses were attacked.
8:45 am IST99 state transport buses damaged on Thursday
Ninety-nine government-run state transport buses were damaged in Thursday’s shutdown, said Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRCT) MD Tomin Thachankery. Employees of KSRTC later staged a rally with the damaged buses.
8:30 am ISTBombs hurled at the house of Malabar Devasom Board member
Bombs hurled at the house of Malabar Devasom Board member Sasikumar in Perambra in Kozhikode district in the early hours of Friday. CPM blamed RSS for it.
8:10 am ISTWas not allowed to go further: Sri Lankan woman
I went up to the holy steps, but I was not allowed to go further. I had a medical certificate also: Sri Lankan woman who came to Sabarimala Temple, reports ANI.
7:30 am IST46-year-old Sri Lankan woman offers prayers: Report
A 46-year-old Sri Lankan woman went and prayed inside Sabarimala Temple. She had reportedly informed police that she had reached menopause and also presented a medical certificate, reports ANI