Top News
Two women forced to return from Sabarimala temple after protests (Third Lead)
Sabarimala (Kerala), Oct 19 (IANS) Frenzied protests and 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.
The two women, Kavitha and Rehna Fathima, made it almost 500 metres short of the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord Ayyappa temple before being forced back by a wall of male devotees and priests who blocked their way.
But there was no violence and some 100 police personnel who were with them escorted them back to safety — only to face criticism that the two women were activists, not devotees.
Kavitha is a Hyderabad-based journalist who was accompanied by a four-member crew and Fathima is a BSNL employee from Kochi.
It was around 6.45 a.m. when the two women and policemen led by Inspector General of Police S. Sreejith started the two-hour climb. Twenty policemen were in the front and 80 officers walked behind them. One of the two women wore anti-riot gear.
As they reached the temple precincts, around 30 employees and the temple Tantri halted their rituals and squatted in front of the hallowed 18 steps leading to the sanctum sanctorum singing Ayyappa hymns.
Hundreds of protesters lay on the road leading to the hilltop temple.
After Sreejith received a telephone call, he told the protesters that the government would not use force and asked them to relent.
“The two women also have their rights according to the Supreme Court directives. Please do not create any disturbances here,” he said.
After an hour, Sreejith told the media that the Tantri had made it clear that he would be forced to close down the temple if there was any violation of tradition and faith — with the women in the age group of 10-50 entering the shrine.
“We conveyed this to the two women and they decided to return, seeking protection till they reached home,” the officer said.
Minister of Devasoms Kadakampally Surendran said the two women were actually activists. “It is our duty to protect the rights of devotees, not activists.
“Our request to women activists is not to do activism in hallowed places. The police should have been more cautious. They should have found out more about the women. The state government is duty bound to protect the rights of the devotees,” he said.
In no time, Fathima’s house in Kochi was damaged, apparently by some devotees.
BSNL denied it was in any way connected with her trip to Sabarimala.
Amid the turmoil, a third woman, who identified herself as Mary Sweety from Thiruvananthapuram district 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.
Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam summoned police chief Loknath Behra to his office and spoke to him about the overall situation.
Devasom Minister Surendran spoke to CPI-M Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.
BJP leader K. Surendran lashed out at the state government and Sreejith for allowing one of the woman to use police gear. “We warn the Kerala government not to forcibly impose the Supreme Court verdict.”
The temple opened its doors on Wednesday for the first time since the September 28 Supreme Court verdict that allowed women from the 10-50 age group to enter the famed shrine.
On Thursday, there was a dawn-to-dusk shutdown across Kerala called by outfits owing loyalty to Hindu groups and the BJP.
–IANS
sg/mr/in/vd
Top News
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
