Sabarimala: BJP observes protests, blocks vehicles

An uneasy calm prevailed at Sabarimala on Sunday, the second day of the two monthlong pilgrimage season, even as Kerala witnessed protests against the arrest of state BJP general secretary K Surendran while he was on his way to the hill-top temple.

All eyes will be on the Supreme Court again with the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the shrine, deciding to file a petition in the court on Monday seeking more time to implement the apex court's September 28 verdict allowing women of all ages to offer worship at the shrine. The court twice declined to stay the verdict this week.

So far, no women in the 1050 age group have sought police protection for the 6-km trek to Lord Ayyappa temple to offer prayers though over 500-odd young women have made online bookings for darshan.

As a political slugfest continues, BJP workers blocked traffic on the national highways for over an hour across the state protesting against the arrest and remand of Surendran. In Vatakara, a KSRTC bus was stoned, police said.

Surendran, who was taken into preventive custody as he tried to proceed to the temple, was on Sunday produced before a magistrate and remanded to 14-day judicial custody after he was charged with non-bailable offences.

Condemning the manner in which Surendran was arrested, Union minister Alphons Kannamthanam said it was "despicable" and described the police action as "condemnable".

"There is need to take a path of consensus on matters relating to Sabarimala," he said in a Facebook post.

Implementing things which are against people's interest has no place in democracy, he said, adding the people's verdict was for five years not life long.