Women on way to shrine turn back after protests
SABARIMALA Priest threatens to lock temple, minister disapproves of ‘activism’ SABARIMALA:
Frenziedprotestsand threats to close down the temple forced two women to return from Sabarimala on the third day of unrest on Friday as Kerala Police declined to escort a third woman to the hill shrine.
A large number of devotees blocked the young women and police team escorting them at Valiya Nadappandhal, the queue complex located a few metres away from the holy ‘pathinettam padi’ (the 18 sacred steps), leading to the sanctum sanctorum.
The women were identified as areporterfromHyderabad,Kavitha Jakkhal, and activist Rehana Fathima from Kerala.
Tension was defused after the women agreed to return as the state government made it clear it did not want to take them to the Sannidhanam, the temple complex, by using force against the protesting devotees.
The stand taken by the ‘tantri’ (head priest) that he would close the temple if the women were escorted into the sanctum sanctorum also persuaded them to return. “We have decided to lock the temple and hand over the keys and leave. I stand with the devotees. I do not have any other option,” said Kandararu Rajeevaru, the head priest.
Meanwhile, a third woman, who identified herself as Mary Sweety from Thiruvananthapuram and now working in the Middle East, expressed a desire to proceed to the Sabarimala temple. But soon a group of devotees surrounded her and started shouting Ayyappa slogans. As Sweety insisted on making it to the temple, local police officials took her to a police station.
Inspector General S Sreejith, who led the police team escorting Fathima and Jakkhal, later told reporters the women have expressed their willingness to go back.
State Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran told mediapersons in the capital that the government was not ready to use force and hurt the sentiments of devotees. He also said that one of the women was later identified as an activist and Sabarimala was not a place to show their strength and activism. “The government has the duty and responsibility to implement the Supreme Court order and give protection to devotees but not for activists,” Surendran said.