Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday blamed RSS for the ongoing violent protests against women's entry into the Sabarimala shrine.
"Sabarimala has a uniqueness that other temples lack; it allows entry for people of all faith. Sangh Parivar and RSS have always been intolerant of this fact. They have made many attempts to erase this distinction of Sabarimala," Vijayan tweeted.
"These attackers are motivated by casteist and feudal ideologies. Encouraging such movements will eventually lead to the banishment of backward classes from places like Sabarimala. All believers must condemn this attack on Sabarimala.The role they played in eliminating the rituals performed at Sabarimala by Adivasi-Malayaran community is common knowledge. The present troubles must be seen in this light. The RSS backed attackers are obstructing believers and spreading terror," he further added.
Kerala temple affairs minister Kadakampally Surendran reportedly presented a senior RSS leader's audio message asking the cadres to go to Sabarimala's monthly pooja disguised as pilgrims. The clip also urged the cadres not to go in groups due to Section 144, and carry irumudi that the devotees take during the pilgrimage.
The minister claimed that this call was made to create trouble at the hill shrine.
RSS in its annual Vijayadashmi address, changed the previous stance on the whole issue, saying that a large section of women follows the tradition of not entering the holy shrine.
"This tradition had been there for so long & was being followed. Those who filed petitions against it are not the one who will go to temple. A large section of women follow this practice. Their sentiments were not considered," said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
Protesters pelted stones at KSRTC buses in Kozhikode, Kundamangalam, Malappuram, Kuttipuram, Cherthala and Kallambalam in Kerala. (Read More)
Supreme Court thinks only about the law of the land, not about the customs & traditions. So many devotees still want that the old custom should be maintained. I have only one opinion, which is based on the old custom & tradition: Kandararu Rajeevaru, #SabarimalaTemple head priest pic.twitter.com/zWGUw1ZETy
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
We'll give protection to everybody going up. It's our job,to give protection to all pilgrims.We'll put more manpower&secure all routes.She(journalist Suhasini Raj reportedly working with New York Times)wasn't forced to come back, she came back:IGP Thiruvananthapuram range #Kerala pic.twitter.com/2ZPhs9IsXj
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
#Visuals from #Kerala: Journalist Suhasini Raj reportedly working with New York Times, on her way to #SabarimalaTemple, returned midway after being stopped by protesters today. pic.twitter.com/D5bh5a1kNv
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
This tradition had been there for so long & was being followed. Those who filed petitions against it are not the one who will go to temple. A large section of women follow this practice. Their sentiments were not considered: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on #SabarimalaTemple issue pic.twitter.com/lY0ig5yJu4
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
The state administration on Wednesday imposed Section 144 in four places-- Sannidhanam, Pamba, Nilakkal, and Elavungal. (Read Here)
Kochi: Kerala State Road Transport Corporation isn't conducting its services today. A KSRTC bus was vandalised at Laka near Nilakkal base camp by protesters yesterday. Sabarimala Protection Committee has called for a 12-hour statewide strike in Kerala today. #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/nh4uyh5WK3
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
Kerala: Journalist Suhasini Raj reportedly working with New York Times, on her way to the #SabarimalaTemple, returned midway after being stopped by protesters. Police say, 'when she reached Marakoottam,she decided to come back after seeing the crowd. Police was ready to take her' pic.twitter.com/bxKVP4Tjcy
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
Kerala: Devotees climb the sacred Pathinettam Padi to enter the #SabarimalaTemple to offer prayers. pic.twitter.com/VOrMSvyxte
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
The CM has drawn immense flak from various quarters for his alleged insensitivity to the whole issue by choosing the same day to kick-start his foreign trip to mobilise resources for the state ravaged by the recent floods. (Read Here)
The government is also forced to provide food and water to the women devotees as hotel owners in Nilakkal have conveyed their unwillingness to cooperate. (Read Here)
Vijayaraghavan called upon real believers and those who believe in democracy to come out and oppose the move to create riots in the area by breaking the legal system. (Read Here)
In an interview with TNIE, Thanthra Vidya Peedham patron and All India Brahmin Federation vice-president Akkeeramon Kalidasa Bhattathiripad spoke about the issues related to Sabarimala that led to the current crisis. (Read Here)
As per reports, the NYT scribe faced stone-pelting from protestors. She also said that she didn't want to hurt anyone. The Kerala IG said that protection will be provided to her.
Kollam native Archana K Rajan has been asked to ‘temporarily stay away from work’ following threats and cyber-bullying after she posted on her Facebook page her intention to visit Sabarimala after observing the 41-day penance.
The cops said that three vehicles carrying journalists were vandalised by miscreants who were found to be under the influence of alcohol.
Suhasini Raj could not trek the Sabarimala path and forced to return to Pamba due to strong protest from devotees at Marakuttam.
The Travancore Devaswom Board has initiated steps to find a solution for the deadlock over Sabarimala temple. TDB president Padmakumar said, the Board is ready for any kind of compromise to find a permanent solution for Sabarimala stalemate. He asked the protesters if they would end the on-going agitation if the board files a review petiion against the SC verdict to allow entry of women of all ages into the hill shrine.
Kerala: Devotees enter Sannidhanam to offer prayers at #SabarimalaTemple. pic.twitter.com/byeg9h7eIl
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
#Kerala #Visuals from #SabarimalaTemple; The portals of temple opened yesterday after the Supreme Court verdict allowing women between the age of 10 to 50 to pray there. pic.twitter.com/jjhmgAA5Ka
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
The Centre has asked the Kerala government to ensure peace across the state following protests against the Supreme Court order allowing women of all age groups to enter Sabarimala temple.
Devaswom board to initiate dialogue with the protesters
Thiruvananthapuram Inspector General of Police (IGP) Manoj Abraham on Thursday rebutted reports that Suhasini Raj, New York Times journalist, was forced to return midway from Kerala's Sabarimala Temple, reported ANI. Suhasini Raj was "not forced to go back, she went back", the agency quoted the IG.
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to not conduct its services on Thursday a day after one of its buses was allegedly vandalised during a protest against the entry of women in Sabarimala Temple, reported ANI.
A pregnant woman, Nisha and her husband Rajesh were allegedly attacked by in Tirur of Malappuram district in the state-wide hartal called by various Hindu outfits against the supreme court's decision to allow women of all age groups to enter the Sabarimala temple. Following the attack, the couple was admitted to Tirur District hospital.In another incident, two cops were injured in stone pelting by hartal supporters.
Kerala: Activist Rahul Easwar has been sent to police remand and is currently lodged in Kottarakkara sub jail. He was arrested yesterday from Nilakkal base camp & a non-bailable FIR was registered against him. (file pic) #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/wi2g6rTMMe
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
The Sabarimla head priest, Kandaru Rajeevaru dismissed reports that the tantri family had planned to close down the Lord Ayyappa temple if young women entered it to offer prayers, PTI reported. However, the priest appealed to the women, belonging to the age group of 10-50 who were restricted as per the centuries-old traditions of the shrine, not to come to Sannidhanam and create problem.
Six BJP youth wing activists were arrested at Nilackal for staging a protest in violation of section 144 of the CrPC, which has been clamped in the area in view of violent demonstrations against allowing women in the menstruating age group inside the Sabarimala temple, reported PTI.
Police removed the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members who launched a sit-in protest at Nilackal, the gateway to Sabarimala, soon after the BJP state President P S Sreedharan Pillai announced in Thiruvananthapuram BJYM activists would violate section 144 in areas including Nilackal.
While being forcibly bundled into a police vehicle, state BJYM president Prakash Babu said not a single woman in the age group of 10 and 50 would be allowed to climb the hills which houses the temple. Police said strong action would be taken against those disrupting the law and order.
Reacting to a reporter's question on SC verdict on allowing women of all ages into Sabarimala shrine, Kerala MLA PC George responded by saying that the SC has no rights to intervene in religious matters.
"Beliefs are important to each and everyone, and there shouldn't be any compromises. Pinarayi, being an atheist has no interest in matters concerning belivers. Lord Ayyappa is a 'naishtika brahmachari' and he had barred women aged between 10 and 50 into the shrine. If the Lord himself doesn't like the entry of women, why women of menstruating age are so determined to visit the shrine," asked George.
Journalist and editor of Malayalam news website Newsgil, Libi CS, who was blocked from entering Sabarimala on Wednesday, has put out a Facebook post saying that "she had not tried to enter the temple in secrecy" and has decided to approach the Supreme Court. (Read Here)
Dewaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran has sharply reacted to BJP President Sreedharan Pillai's call to party workers to defy prohibitory orders in Sabarimala. "Pillai said that those who attacked media yesterday at Nilakkal were not BJP workers. The govt has issued prohibitory orders against those creating mayhem at the shrine, not against devotees," said Kadakampally. Coming down heavily on the Centre, he asked why it has failed to come up with an Ordinance. He mocked Pillai saying that instead of creating mayhem, the BJP leader should try to issue an ordinance by speaking to PM Modi.
Kerala DGP has ordered cyber cell to register cases against people who are spreading religious hatred posts related to incidents of violence in Nilakkal and Pamba on social media.
Situation is peaceful. There's no problem here. We've deployed sufficient police force in Pampa&Sannidhanam. There's no issue. Currently this (Section 144) has been imposed for 2 days, further decision will be taken as per situation: PB Nooh, Pathanamthitta Dist Collector #Kerala pic.twitter.com/8LucVmBaYl
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
Continuing his attack on RSS, Vijayan said, "These attackers are motivated by casteist and feudal ideologies. Encouraging such movements will eventually lead to the banishment of backward classes from places like Sabarimala. All believers must condemn this attack on Sabarimala.The role they played in eliminating the rituals performed at Sabarimala by Adivasi-Malayaran community is common knowledge. The present troubles must be seen in this light. The RSS backed attackers are obstructing believers and spreading terror."
Sabarimala has a uniqueness that other temples lack; it allows entry for people of all faith. Sangh Parivar and RSS have always been intolerant of this fact. They have made many attempts to erase this distinction of Sabarimala.
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) October 18, 2018
