Kochi, Oct 19: Amid threat by Thantri to lock the Ayyappa temple, protests by Assistant Priests and several devotees forced two women, including a Journalist of Mojo TV to give up their attempt to enter the world famous hill shrine at Sabarimala on Friday.
UNI report from Sabarimala said, When they reached Valiya Nada Pandal, just 100 metre away from the shrine, a large number of devotees prevented them.
Reports said the two women covered a five km trek uphill and were minutes away from the 18 steps-- the golden steps-- that lead to the sanctum sanctorum of the famous shrine. On these steps about 20 priests sat, chanted and clapped and not allowed the two women to go ahead.
The two women earlier trekked to Sabarimala Shrine escorted by 100 policemen in riot gear.
The 20-year old women Journo, who is in police attire, was given the massive security, including commandos, led by Inspector-General Sreejith.
Though the IG requested the devotees to co-operate with the police to implement the SC order, allowing the entry for women of all ages to the shrine, the devotees continued to protest and began a sit-in dharna blocking women entry.
The IG also informed the devotees that the police is not willing to exert force against them hurting their relgious sentiments.
Meanwhile, Devaswom Board Minister Kadakampally Surendran told newspersons that the government has no plan to hurt the sentiments of believers and it will also protect the constitutional rights of believers.
He said the government will not allow any activist to create problems and hurt the beliefs of Lord Ayyappa Devotees.
Mr Surendran also clarified that the Government will not support exerting force on devotees who are not the members of Sangh Parivar. "We respect the rights of true believers," he added.
Talking to newspersons in Sabarimala earlier, the women Journalist Kavitha Jakkal said she had the right to go Sannidanam in the wake of SC verdict allowing entry for women of all ages into the temple.
Normally women journalists used to perform their duties from Pamba, up to that place women are allowed to reach, as per the customs and traditions, sources of Pandalam Palace and Tantri Family said.
The two trekked to the shrine since the temple opened for the first time after the Supreme court overturned a centuries-old ban on women between 10-50 years of age. Not a single woman in that age group has managed to enter the temple since Wednesday, the report added.
A UNI report from Kochi said, As the situation was not conducive and the decision of the government to protect the interest of the devotees at any cost and not to give any support to women to design their strength, they had decided to back to Pampa, the base camp of Sabarimala after one-hour-long discussion with the police.
The IG also met the two women and informed them about the ground reality and consequences of a lathicharge against the Devotees at Sannidanam. He also requested them to return to Pamba base citing the grave situation.
After a long confusion and confrontation, the police took them back to Pamba, easing the tension that mounted at Sannidhanam.
The Thantri had given the ultimatum to the police that in case if women were allowed to enter Sabarimala, then they had no other choice but to close down the temple to prevent any violation of century-old tradition.
Earlier, for the first time in the history of Sabarimala, the assistants priests, numbering around 35, boycotted the poojas.
This was the third time in a row, after the temple opened for monthly poojas on October 17, that the agitating devotees prevented women entering Sabarimala Sannidhanam.
Rahna Fathima, the second women to trek the hill shrine today and a native of Kochi and an employee of BSNL, also said to be an activist, along with a TV journalist from Hyderabad.
The Devaswom Minister also blamed the police for their failure to identify activist Rahana Fathima, who is known for anti-Sabarimala posts in Facebook and other social media.
Earlier, on the first day, a 45-year-old woman from Andhra Pradesh, Madhavi, clad in normal dress against the traditional dress of black, was laid by the devotees and forced to give up her attempt.
On Thursday a New York Time Delhi Reporter Suhasini Raj had tried to enter Sabarimla with police escort, had to wind up from Marakoottam because of the resistance by the devotees.
Following heavy lathicharge on Wednesday afternoon, the District authorities had imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC at four places - Elavunkal, Nilakkal, Pamba and Sannidanam for the next two days.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday said that the safety and security of the pilgrims at Sabarimala temple is the responsibility of the State Government.
“An advisory is already in place apprehending a law and order issue after the Supreme Court verdict on the entry of women at the said temple. The Ministry sent an advisory to the Kerala Government on October 15”, a senior MHA official told UNI.
The fact that the state government would be in direct contempt of SC’s decision if female devotees of any age are stopped from entering the temple has also been impressed upon the State Government, he added.
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