69 detained in Sabari stand-off

Sabarimala/Delhi, Nov. 19: Activists of the BJP, Yuva Morcha and other right-wing outfits Monday stepped up protests across Kerala against the late night police crackdown at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple complex and the subsequent detention of 69 people.

In a strong reprimand, the Kerala High Court expressed its displeasure over the manner in which Ayyappa devotees were dealt with by the police at the “Sannidhanam” (temple complex).

Given the tense situation, there was a dip in arrivals at the shrine which is visited by lakhs of pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage season. As a war of words erupted over the police action, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan maintained that those who had been arrested were not Ayyappa devotees, but RSS workers camping at Sannidhanam (temple complex).

Asserting that his government was with the devotees, Vijayan said it was being targeted for trying to implement the Supreme Court order permitting entry of all women into the shrine.

Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam, on a visit to Nilackal, Pamba and Sannidhanam to take stock of the various facilities at the hill shrine, lashed out at the state goverment, saying the temple complex had been turned into a “war zone” and devotees were being treated as “dacoits”.

Citing lack of basic amenities, the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the temple, moved the Supreme Court seeking more time to implement its September

28 verdict allowing women of all age groups to pray at the hill shrine.

The TDB move came amid the stand-off over entry of women in the 1050 age group, traditionally barred at the shrine. The day also saw three young women expressing their desire to visit the holy shrine, but in a “friendly atmosphere”. About a dozen women, including social activist, Trupti Desai, had made futile efforts to go to Sabarimala. — PTI