New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram: BJP president Amit Shah today hit out at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the mass arrests following the protest staged by ayyappa devotees at Sabarimala, saying that the men there were just trying to enforce the century-old religious belief.
"Today in Kerala a struggle is going on between religious beliefs and state government's cruelty. More than 2,000 activists and workers from BJP, RSS and other organisations have been arrested. BJP is standing like a rock with devotees, Left government be warned," he said while addressing a rally at Kannur in Kerala after inaugurating a party office in the city.
Across the state, 2,061 people have been arrested after Mr Vijayan ordered a crackdown on those defying the Supreme Court order on the entry of women in the Sabarimala temple. A total of 452 cases have been registered against 2,300 people.
The Supreme Court had on September 28 overturned a centuries-old practice that barred women of menstrual age (10-50 years) from entering the hill temple, where a celibate deity Lord Ayyappa is worshipped.
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Oct 27, 2018 12:52 (IST)
Senior Congress legislator K Muraleedharan under whose constituency the ashram is located, dismissed Mr Eashwar's statement. "I know what the Swami stands for and he will never do such a thing. This is nothing but a baseless allegation," said Mr Muraleedharan.
Oct 27, 2018 11:46 (IST)
Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac alleged that the arson was an attempt to murder the preacher. "Swami Sandeepananda Giri has been valiantly fighting the positions adopted by the Sangh Parivar on the Supreme Court order allowing women of all age groups to enter Sabarimala. In this ashram, only Swami and another person were living. The fire was started in a way to engulf the building. It's only when people from outside alerted the Swami that he got to know about the fire. Thankfully, the fire force reached quickly. This is the extent they will go to attack the real devotees," Mr Isaac said.
Oct 27, 2018 11:10 (IST)
His ashram was attacked by unidentified persons around 2:30 this morning.
Oct 27, 2018 11:09 (IST)
Swami Sandeepananda Giri had supported the Supreme Court verdict allowing the entry of women of menstruating age to the famous Sabarimala temple