Maha women try to storm Shani temple

Ahmednagar police stopped the activists of ‘Ranaragini Bhoomata Brigade’ protesting against the alleged gender bias by the temple authorities, led by Trupti Desai, at Supa, about 70 km from temple premises

Pune, Jan. 26: Around 400 women activists, who tried to head for Shani Shinganapur temple in Ahmednagar district defying prohibitory orders to worship the deity, were released by police this evening after detaining them for a few hours.

Ahmednagar police stopped the activists of 'Ranaragini Bhoomata Brigade' protesting against the alleged gender bias by the temple authorities, led by Trupti Desai, at Supa, about 70 km from the temple premises, foiling their bid to worship at the sacred platform, traditionally barred for women.

The detained women were lodged in a marriage hall at Supa, where they were held by women police personnel.

“We detained Trupti Desai and other activists. After taking action under the relevant sections of the Bombay Police Act, they were released on bail in the evening,” said additional superintendent of police, Ahmednagar district, Pankaj Deshmukh.

“We took utmost precaution to avoid any con- frontation between villagers of Shani Shinganapur and the women activists and the latter has been asked to go back to Pune,” he added.

The activists were later sent back to Pune in buses, police said. Desai condemned the police action prohibiting their march to the temple town saying it was a “black day for women and an insult to the Constitution”.

“We are going to meet the CM and request him that government should take over the temple trust and allow both men and women inside the core area of the temple, ending the gender bias and discrimination,” she said after their release.

Mumbai, Jan. 26: Maintaining that women have right to pray, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday favoured a dialogue between authorities of Shani Shingnapur temple and activists to find a way out over the ban on entry of female devotees into the inner sanctum of the shrine.

He urged the temple authorities to hold a dialogue with the women’s group that is campaigning for entry of female devotees into the inner sanctum of the shrine in Ahmednagar district.

“Indian culture and Hindu religion gives women have the right to pray. A change in yesterday’s traditions is our culture. Discrimination in praying is not in our culture. The temple authorities should resolve the issue through a dialogue,” tweeted Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio.

Minister of state for Home Ram Shinde said the government will facilitate talks between the temple authorities and women activists to arrive at an amicable solution.

“If there is a dispute between activists and temple authorities over allowing women access to the (Shani Shingnapur) temple, the state government will act as facilitator for talks between them so that the issue can be resolved amicably,” Shinde said. —