MUMBAI: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today welcomed the Bombay High Court order directing the state government to take pro-active steps for ensuring compliance of law to prevent discrimination against women on entry to places of worship.
"I fully support and welcome the decision of the High Court. There is no way you can discriminate (between men and women). The Constitution gives equal rights to everyone," Chavan said.
"You cannot discriminate against women by citing some traditions. All such traditions are a means to keep status of women secondary to that of men," he said.
"This (discrimination) is not acceptable at all. Whichever the place, we should strive for equality," the Congress MLA said.
"No violence should be used but the coercive force of the state should be used to break down all these barriers," Chavan said.