Chaos and mayhem reigned on the Nilackal- Pampa road since Tuesday , as activists fought pitched battles with the police as the Sabarimala temple opened for the first time since the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry to women of all ages to the hill shrine.
As many as 13 policemen and 200 protesters from Hindu fringe outfits were injured in violence on Wednesday.
Nilackal, the entry point of the temple, turned into a venue of protests by various groups that opposed the entry of younger women to the shrine.
Here are the live updates:
The Travancore Devaswom Board will meet on Friday in Thiruvananthapuram to find an amicable solution to the Sabarimala row. Ahead of the meeting, the TDB, which administers the hill shrine, said on Thursday it was ready for any sort of compromise to end the stand-off.
TDB president A. Padmakumar said the board has always taken a stand that it was ready for any sort of compromise to end the protest and bring normalcy. “We are not for any politics over the issue,” he told reporters at Pampa.
The meeting is being held after consensus eluded a crucial meeting of stakeholders called by the board last week to resolve the vexed issue. However, the TDB, which manages over 1,200 temples in the state, including the Lord Ayyappa Temple, had said talks with the stakeholders would continue to find a solution.
Last week’s meeting attended by various stakeholders of the shrine, including temple tantri (head priest), the Pandalam royal family, ‘Ayyappa Seva Samajam’ and ‘Yoga Kshema Sabha’, had failed to arrive at an agreement as the TDB stuck to its stand of not going for a review plea.
Representatives of the Pandalam royal family had walked out as TDB refused to concede their demand to take a decision on filing the review plea on October 16 itself.
However, the TDB president had said the meeting was not a “failure” and the board wanted to settle the issue and go ahead with the talks with the people concerned again.
Kerala Police unleashing violence on Ayyappa devotees, alleges BJP
BJP national secretary H. Raja has alleged that police personnel were unleashing violence against Lord Ayyappa devotees at Sabarimala and demanded resignation of Kerala CM Mr. Vijayan.
Mr. Raja, who has courted controversies for his remarks, said akin to exemptions given to some mosques in restricting women, Sabarimala should be exempted too. “Policemen are indulging in violence. They are hurling stones at devotees. Are you (the LDF government) not ashamed,” he asked and demanded that Mr. Vijayan tender his resignation.
Speaking to reporters in Tirunelveli, Mr. Raja said the Sabarimala imbroglio would come to an end only with the ouster of the LDF government. The BJP leader asked whether all women went to mosques. “So, sentiments of Hindus must be respected too,” he said, adding that BJP would stand by protesters.
He also hit out a Delhi-based woman journalist, who attempted to trek to the shrine, saying the temple “is not a lodge or a restaurant.”
Kerala Minister, State BJP chief cross sword over audio tape
A row has broken out in Kerala over an audio clip which urged Lord Ayyappa devotees to reach Sabarimala disguised as devotees and create trouble with a Minister targeting the BJP over it and the latter denying any link.
State Devasowm Minister Kadakampally Surendran played the audio clip at a press meet and alleged it was an attempt by Sangh forces and the BJP to mobilise people at the temple to create trouble.
However, State BJP chief P.S. Sreedharan Pillai flatly rejected the charge and said he would quit politics if the voice in the audio was proved to be that of any of his party leader or activist.
In the audio tape, an activist was heard purportedly asking his followers to come to Sabarimala by wearing the sacred bead chain and customary “irumudikettu” (sacred bundle containing ghee-filled coconuts they offer to the deity) to defy prohibitory orders.
Mr. Surendran asked Mr. Pillai to explain what was the intention behind such a message and said it was an attempt to create trouble at the Sannidhanam.
Mr. Surendran alleged that the BJP was adopting double standards on the Sabarimala issue. “The Centre is with you...why don’t you bring an ordinance to overcome the Supreme Court verdict if you are sincere in opposing it,” he added.
Seeking to turn the tables on the Minister, Mr. Pillai said, “He clearly knows that whose voice is this.” Without naming anyone, the BJP leader alleged the voice was that of a local leader of the outfit led by a Gujarat-based leader who has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his recent speeches, an apparent reference to ‘Antarashtriya Hindu Parishad’ headed by Pravin Togadia.
“That persons is a new friend of the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala. But, I do not want to name either the outfit or the leader and make them great,” he added.
Centre asks Kerala to ensure peace
The Centre has asked the Kerala government to ensure peace across the State, officials said.
In an advisory, the Home Ministry said maintenance of law and order, including providing security to women wishing to visit the temple, was the responsibility of the State government.
The Kerala government must ensure law and order and full compliance of the Supreme Court order allowing women of the menstrual age group to visit Sabarimala Temple of Lord Ayyappa, a Home Ministry official said.
The State government has been impressed upon the fact that it would be in direct contempt of the Supreme Court order if female devotees of any age are stopped from entering the temple, he said, quoting the advisory sent on October 15.
Another official said the Kerala government, in its communication, has assured the Centre that the apex court order would be implemented and the law and order situation at the pilgrimage site was under control.
Kandararu Rajeevaru appeals to women
The Sabarimla head priest, Kandararu Rajeevaru dismissed reports that the tantri family had planned to close down the Lord Ayyappa temple if young women entered it to offer prayers.
He was reacting at Sannidhanam, the temple complex, after some reports were widely shared on social media.
However, the priest appealed to the women, belonging to the age group of 10-50 who were restricted as per the centuries-old traditions of the shrine, not to come to Sannidhanam and create problem.
“We have never said that the temple will be closed if women of the traditionally barred age group enter there.
It is our duty and responsibility to carry out the monthly poojas and other rituals. We will not break the custom,” Rajeevaru said.
He also said Sabarimala is a place where women are respected.
Six BJP youth wing activists were arrested at Nilackal for staging a protest in violation of section 144 of the CrPC, which has been clamped in the area in view of violent demonstrations against allowing women in the menstruating age group inside the Sabarimala temple.
Police removed the slogan-shouting Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members who launched a sit-in protest at Nilackal, the gateway to Sabarimala, soon after the BJP state President P S Sreedharan Pillai announced in Thiruvananthapuram BJYM activists would violate section 144 in areas including Nilackal.
BJP workers stage road blockade on the Ring Road near Azhoor Road.
In another development, the protesters attacked a crew of the Media One TV channel near Elanthoor on the Kozhencherry-Pathanamthitta road in the afternoon.
Sangh Parivar unleashes violence in Malappuram
Sangh Parivar activists unleashed violence at several places in the district in the name of a hartal called by the Akhila Hindu Parishat to protest against the State government's stand in implementing the Supreme Court order permitting women of all ages to Sabarimala.
Two KSRTC buses were destroyed by the hartal supporters at Chamravattom and Mini Pampa. A KSRTC bus driver suffered injuries in the attack.
Two policemen were injured at Tanur as Sangh Parivar men pelted stones at them. A strong police force has been deployed at Tanur.
Sangh Parivar and BJP activists blocked road and vehicles at many places across the district and threatened motorists. They attacked a local TV channel reporter at Marancheri. Chitravision reporter Sanoop was injured in the attack.
(Report by Abdul Latheef Naha from Malappuram)
Sabarimala hartal turns violent, 32 KSRTC buses wrecked
The dawn-to-dusk general strike by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to deter women between the age of 10 and 50 from worshipping at Sabarimala turned violent in many parts of the State on Thursday.
A senior official said right-wing Hindu groups and BJP workers posing as Sabarimala pilgrims threw stones at passers-by, police pickets, Government vehicles, public transport buses and private cars at Pathanamthitta, Mancheri in Malappuram district, Palakkad, and Sasthamkottai in Kollam district. BJP workers targeted one Tamil Nadu bus at Pathanamthitta.
A senior official said right-wing Hindu groups and BJP workers posing as Sabarimala pilgrims threw stones at passers-by, police pickets, government vehicles, public transport buses and private cars
The impact of the bandh was felt across the State strongly. Shops, fuel outlets, hotels and other private establishments remained shut. The roads looked deserted except for an occasional vehicle.
BJYM leaders will violate ban orders tonight: BJP State president
As many as 41 Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leaders, lead by State president Prakash Babu, will violate prohibitory orders at Nilackal at 11.30 pm. today, BJP State president P.S. Sreedharan Pillai said.
Mr. Pillai told reporters that the number of leaders has been limited to avoid tension and the party has decided to peacefully violate the ban orders. He demanded a judicial probe into the incidents that took place at Pamba and Nilackal on Wednesday and accused the government of posting members of Kerala Armed Police battalion without name plates for instigating trouble.
New head priests selected through draw of lots
V.N. Vasudevan Namboodiri from Palakkad has been selected as the next Sabarimala Melsanthi (head priest) through a draw of lots held at the Sopanam of the Ayyappa Temple on Thursday morning.
Presently, he is the Melsanthi at the Sreejalahalli Sree Ayyappa Temple in Bengaluru.
M.N. Narayanan Namboodiri from Chengannur has been selected the next Melsaathi for the Malikappuram Devi Temple through another draw of lots held at the Devi temple sopanam, later.
Both Melsanthis will be assuming charge for the next one year period at the respective temples on November 17, first day in the Malayalam month of Vrischikom when the two-month Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season begins.
Female journalist abandons attempts amidst threats, abuses
Protest and tension mounted as Suhasini Raj reached Marakkoottom, despite heavy police bandobast.
It appears that she has decided to terminate the climb at Marakkoottom following vehement protests from Sangh Parivar activists. More than 1000 Sangh activities chased her, shouting abuses and threats.
The disheartened female journalist started descending the hills amid protests. Police formed strong cordon around her, ensuring her protection.
The reporter said that she was injured in stone-pelting by the Sangh activists.
NYT reporter attempts to climb the shrine
Suhasini Raj, female reporter of The New York Times , is climbing the Sabarimala with police protection an Thursday morning.
Accompanied by a male colleague, she has reached Marakkoottom through the Swami Ayyappan Road on Thursday amid strong protests from the Sabarimala Protection Council activists.
She is expected to reach the holy hillock in the next 30 minutes.
Sabarimala temple reopens amidst protests, violence
The police cane-charged protesters on Wednesday as the Sabarimala temple opened for the first time since the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry to women of all ages to the hill shrine.
As many as 13 policemen and 200 protesters from Hindu fringe outfits were injured in the incidents.
Nilackal, the base camp situated 20 km from Pampa, witnessed unruly scenes as a mob, allegedly linked to Sangh Parivar outfits, tried to block entry of women of menstrual age and hurled stones at them.
