Sabarimala temple LIVE updates: Opposition Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has rejected TDB decision to file the affidavit in the Supreme Court. He said that the board should file a review petition instead of filing the affidavit. He accused TDB of acting on the orders of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist). Travancore Dewasom Board decided to file an urgent affidavit in the Supreme Court on the entry of women at Sabarimala temple. Board president A Padmakumar said that they have decided to approach senior lawyer Abishek Manu Singhvi as the lawyer to appear in the Supreme Court. Huge protests by hundreds of devotees at the entrance of Sabarimala temple forced the Kerala Police accompanying two women on Friday to call off their journey. Meanwhile, a third woman was turned back from Pamba camp after cops claimed that they were helpless after priests threatened to shut down the shrine. Reacting to a Kerala minister’s comment that the Sabarimala shrine was no place for showing activism, Rehan Fathima, one of the women turned back from shine asked him that how can anyone decide whether or not she was an activist. Another 46 year old woman, Mary Sweety, who was attempting to trek to Sabarimala. However, the state police managed to dissuade her from going up for now. Earlier, the Sabarimala head priest had threatened that he will shut the doors of the shrine. Kerala IGP said that the police force were helpless in the face of the protest as using force was not an option. He said that they had no option after the head priest said that he will shut down the temple. “Stopping the pooja would have been a ritualistic disaster,” the police officer said. The two women who were enroute the shrine were asked to return by the Kerala IGP. The police advised them against entering the shrine, as the devotees refused to relent. The shrine’s head priest had also threatened to shut down the temple if the women tried to force their way in. The two women who were enroute the shrine have agreed to give up their journey. The police had requested them to abort their plan earlier as an unprecedented showdown ensued between the police and protesters. In fact the head priest had also threatened to shut down the temple had the women tried to force their way in. The head priest of the Sabarimala temple told CNN-News18 that the he will be forced to lock down the temple and hand over the keys to the temple managers of women between the age group of 10 and 50 years try to force their way in. The priests have completed the morning pooja, however, doubts looms large over whether the evening pooja can take place in view of the ongoing standoff. Two women have reached within 200 metres of the Lord Ayyappa shrine, the farthest any woman between 10 to 50 years of age has ever come to the celibate deity’s shrine. However, obstructing their way are around 250 male devotees who are lying down to prevent women from violating their faith, which in direct conflict with the recent Supreme Court order. Kerala government makes a U-turn on its stand on women’s entry following the latest showdown. The Kerala government’s Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran said that the government had no obligation to protect the rights of activists merely turning up to stage a show of strength at a place of worship. He said the government will only protect real devotees turning up to pray to the devotee. “We are here to carry on the verdict of the Supreme Court. We are not here to harm you (devotees). So please cooperate with us. We are also Lord Ayyappa devotees but we have to protect faith and law too,” Kerala IGP tells protesters Word that two women, a journalist and a devotee, are trying to trek up to the hill shrine, scores of Lord Ayyappa devotees have begin converging around the shrine. While some protesters are moving towards the woman — who are around Marakoottam, 2 km away from the shrine — another group is about to enter the temple and will try to block their entry. Another woman under the age of 50 is trying to reach the Sannidhanam. Donning the traditional black robes and irumudi on her head, the woman has reached Sabarideepam, a place merely 2 kilometres from the main temple. However, unlike the Andhra journalist, this devotee does not seem to be wearing the protection gear. Kavita, an Andhra Pradesh-based journalist, is at the moment climbing her way to Sabarimala under tremendous police protection. She is wearing complete police riot gear including helmets. Inspector General of Police S Sreejith is leading the police party. She claims she wants to report from Sannidhanam. Amid mounting protest in Kerala against the entry of women of menstrual age into Sabarimala temple, the Travancore Devaswom Board will meet on Friday in Thiruvananthapuram to find an amicable solution to the row. Ahead of the meeting, the TDB, which administers the hill shrine, on Thursday said 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. Seeking to reach out to devotees opposing entry of women of all age groups, he asked if the protests would end if the TDB files a review plea in the Supreme Court against its verdict. The meeting is being held after consensus eluded a crucial meeting of stakeholders called by the board last week to resolve the vexed issue of entry of women of all age groups into the shrine in the wake of the apex court judgment. However, 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 Tuesday 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. The Sabarimala temple, located on the mountain ranges of the ecologically fragile Western Ghats, opened on Thursday for the first time after the recent apex court order, allowing entry of women of all age groups there. The shrine will close on 22 October after the five-day monthly puja during the Malayalam month of Thulam.
Sabarimala Temple updates: Congress says TDB should file review plea, not detailed report in SC
Sabarimala temple LIVE updates: Opposition Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has rejected TDB decision to file the affidavit in the Supreme Court.
 "Sabarimala Temple updates: Congress says TDB should file review plea, not detailed report in SC")
Congress says TDB’s should file review plea instead of detailed report
Opposition Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has rejected TDB decision to file the affidavit in the Supreme Court. He said that the board should file a review petition instead of filing the affidavit. He accused TDB of acting on the orders of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Devaswom minister reacts to Friday’s developments
Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran said that he had strong suspicion that today’s developments were the result of a conspiracy by the BJP and the RSS to create trouble in Sabarimala. He has welcomed the TDB decision to file a report about the situation in the Supreme Court and high court.
Protesters detained in Pamba
#Kerala: Police in Pamba detain Lord Ayyapaa devotees protesting against entry of women of all ages in #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/0ySJjh1nmr
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018
Visual from outside Sabarimala temple
Image courtesy: Anil Gopi
Protesters hold march outside IG’s resident
Save Sabarimala Forum activists taking out a march to Inspector General Manoj Abraham’s residence at Thiruvananthapuram to protest against the police action the he led against the protesters at Nilakkal on Thursday. CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had termed the campaign against the IG as part of attempt to trigger a communal poarlisation in the police force.
TDB keeps changing stand, says Kerala BJP chief
Kerala BJP president PS Sreedharan Pillai has dismissed the TDB’s decision as “insincere”. “The TDB president A Padmakumar keep changing his stand. He must first prove his sincerity before announcing any new step,” he said.
TDB will decide on filing review plea after holding talks with Singhvi
TDP president A Padmakumar said that the board will be filing a report about the present situation and will become part of the existing review petitions. Whether the board should give a review petition or not will be decided after consultation with lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
They will also file a report before the high court.
25 review plea pending before SC in Sabarimala case
He said that the board had decided to approach the Supreme Court, which is the main demand of the devotees and Hindu outfits. There are currently 25 review petitions pending before it.
TDB to approach Abhishek Manu Singhvi to appear for them in SC
After the Travancore Dewasom Board(TDB) met on Friday, board president A Padmakumar said that they have decided to approach Senior lawyer Abishek Manu Singhvi as the lawyer to appear in the Supreme Court.
Woman devotee, turned back earlier today, plans to go on strike
According to NDTV, Kavitha, a journalist who was stopped from reaching Sabarimala temple on Friday, has said that she will go on strike against the protesters.
In name of devotees, other elements causing discord: Sitaram yechury on Sabarimala showdown
CPM leader Sitaram Yeschury says efforts are being made to disrupt social harmony. In the name of harmony, other elements are causing discord, he adds. “Those disturbing law and order will be dealt with,” says Yechury.
He also blamed the BJP for trying to disrupt the law and order, and planting organised protests. “This is the worst form of vote bank politics being played at the expense of destroying social harmony. Women were roughed up, and it is being done by RSS. They lost the battle of preventing Sabarimala gates from opening on time and they’ll lose again.”
No woman managed to enter Sabarimala shrine despite court order
In the three days that Sabarimala has been open for the first time since the landmark Supreme Court order, no woman in the age group of 10-50 has made it to the shrine. 24-year-old Kavitha Jakkala, a Hyderabad based news anchor and another woman, identified as Rehana Fathima from Ernakulam created history by managing to reach within 200 metres of the shrine, the farthest any woman has ever managed to come.
However, they decided to abandon their quest to enter the shrine after even the priests of the temple came down in protest and threatened to shut down the temple, if the women tried to force their way in.
Sabarimala not a tourist spot, only devotees go there
Sabarimala is not a tourist spot, only devotees go there. Right now what Kerala police is doing is wrong. Had there been our govt we would've handled the situation better. We would've talked to devotees, there would've been no violence: R Chennithala, Congress #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/IT9wdDfdvA
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018
Travancore Devaswom Board calls meet at 3 pm
The Kerala Devaswom Board will hold an internal meeting at around 3 pm to discuss the strategy regarding the unprecedented resistance to the implementation of a Supreme Court order. The Travancore Devaswom Board will take a call on whether or not it will file a review petition in the Supreme Court against the September 18 order granting permission to all women to enter the shrine.
Visuals from Kochi residence of Rehana Fathima
The house of activist Rehana Fathima was vadalised by unidentiied miscreants after she decided to enter Sabarimala shrine. She was later forced to turn back after police told her that the visit can escalate a law and order situation.
Kerala: The house of woman activist Rehana Fatima in Kochi was vandalised by unidentified miscreants earlier today. She had gone up to the #SabarimalaTemple this morning under police protection & returned midway after a meeting with Kerala IG. pic.twitter.com/OYvCG2mvmb
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018
Don’t know what happened to my children, my life is under threat, says Rehana Fathima
After Fathima was identified, two bike-borne men reportedly attacked her house. “I don’t know what happened to my children. My life is also in danger. But they (police) have said that they will provide protection. That is why I am going back (home),” Rehana Fathima, the woman who was asked to give up her plans to visit shrine said.
Rehana Fathima says people disrupted peace, not activists
**"**People, not devotees, who want to disrupt peace didn’t allow us to enter. I want to know what was the reason. Tell me, in which way one needs to be a devotee. You tell me that and then I will tell you if I’m a devotee or not,” activist Rahana Fathima said after she had to return without going to Sabarimala.
Home Ministry’s letter to Kerala, Tamil Nadu Karnataka govts warning against clashes in Sabarimala
Home ministry issued security advisory to Kerala on 16 oct, warned against clashes, protests
The Union Home Ministry had issued an advisory dated 16 October to Kerala state government, asking them to make adequate security arrangements ahead of women’s entry to shrine.
The Home Ministry had warned the state government about left activists using women to create trouble at Sabarimala. The ministry had also asked them to prepare for protests being called by right-wing groups.
Sabarimala situation war of atheists against beliefs, says Sreedharan Pillai
“This is a war against belief by atheists. Activists were given police uniform and protection gear to climb Sabarimala. Government is creating a storm in the state,” BJP State President PS Sreedharan Pillai said.
Women’s background should be checked before taking them to temple: Devaswom minister K Surendran
Weighing in on the situation that unfolded at Sabarimala today morning, Dewasom Minister K Surendran said, “Sabarimala can never be made a war zone. Police should have been more careful while taking the two women up to the temple. Their backgrounds should have been checked.”
“Sabarimala is not a place for activists to show their strength. Government will only support genuine devotees,” he added.
Kerala IG denies negotiating with two women trying to enter shrine, says duo decided to return on their own
“We had no negotiation with Rehana and Kavita, they decided themselves to go back. The government was categorical they don’t want any violence in Sabarimala, that’s what we heard from the government,” Kerala IG Sreejith said after reports came that the women were asked to go back from the shrine.
‘Who are you to decide who is an activist, and who a devotee?’ Rehana Fathima, one of the women turned back from shrine asks Kerala govt
Reacting to a Kerala minister’s comment that the Sabarimala shrine was no place for showing activism, Rehana Fathima, one of the women turned back from shrine asked him that how can anyone decide whether or not she was an activist.
“Who are you to decide what constitutes a believer, and who is a true believer. The police have failed me, and the government has failed me. I was told that there will be a law and order problem if we go up. Hence I was forced to return because I didn’t want to precipitate a law and order problem,” Rehana said.
Pandalam Royal family writes to Sabarimala priests, asks them to shut the temple if women try to enter shrine
The Pandalam Royal Family has written to the Sabarimala priests and the temple manamegemnt, asking them to lock the shrine if any more women try to force their way into the Sannidhanam.
‘Its your failure if women have turned back from shrine,’ third woman trying to visit shrine tells police
Kerala: A woman devotee Mary Sweety returned midway after she was stopped by protesters at Pamba; says "I don't know about them ((journalist Kavitha Jakkal & woman activist Rehana Fatima). If women have returned, it is your drawback. I want to go there." #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/vzit2Skxqr
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018
Congress slams Left govt, Kerala Police for fuelling violence
Lader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala has launched a scathing attack on the Kerala police. He said, “What is happening is very unfortunate. Priests having to stop their rituals to protest is unfortunate. Are these actually believers who are being escorted by police? A case should be filed against IG Sreejith. He has violated rules and laws.”
“There have been so many Supreme Court orders that have still not been implemented. There have been instances where govt asked for more time. But this govt wants violence that’s why they jumped into this,” he said.
Kerala minister agrees law, women rights violated in Sabarimala, says protesters hired BJP goons
Kerala minister EP Jayarajan told news channels that turning back women from the Sabarimala shrine was a violation of the law and women’s rights. He, however, blamed the BJP for the lapses and said that the protesters were not devotees but hooligans hired by the BJP and RSS.
#BREAKING | Laws, including, rights of women have been violated. Protestors at #SabarimalaTemple are hooligans hired by @bjp4india and @rssorg to create ruckus at #Sabarimala: EP Jayarajan, Kerala Minister | #SabarimalaForAll #DadagiriOrDevotion
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 19, 2018
LIVE: https://t.co/DjbJFbx8T3 pic.twitter.com/c8mQqFqMJM
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala accuses govt of helping BJP and RSS
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala accused the government of helping the BJP and RSS to create law and order problem. The government and the police are giving them fuel. The government had tried to complicate the issue from the beginning. The inept handling of the situation by the government and the police are responsible for the tense situation in the state. He said that the police remained inactive while protesters from the BJP stopped vehicles and checked them, but today they escorted activists to the shrine.
I am not an activist, want to pray to Lord Ayyappa, says third woman devotee trying to reach shrine
Mary, a 46-old woman, who works in Sharjah, has come forward to visit the temple without police protection. She said she is not an activist and had come to go to the temple with full devotion. She said that she had visited places of worship of all religions. Mary has not informed the police about her plan to go to the temple. She had come to Pampa with the intention of visiting the temple six months back but could not go.
Mary, however, is not carrying the ‘irumudi’ which is pre-requisite for climbing the 18 holy steps.
Third woman reaches Pampa in efforts to take darshan, police tries to dissuade her
Another women 46 year old Mary Sweety is now attempting to trek to Sabarimala. However, the state police trying to deter her because its so unsafe at the moment. The police personnel have asked her to remain inside the control room till the IGP returns. He will take a further call on whether to escort her or to ask her to go back.
We were helpless, says Kerala IGP after requesting 2 women to turn back from shrine
Kerala IGP said that the police force were helpless in the face of the protest as using force was not an option.
“We had brought them (journalist Kavitha Jakkal and woman activist Rehana Fatima) till temple premises but tantri and priest refused to open temple for them. While we were waiting, tantri informed me that if we attempt to take the women ahead they would close the temple. It would have been a ritualistic disaster had the pooja stopped.”
“We took them up to temple and gave them protection but ‘darshan’ is something which can be done with consent of priest. We will give them whatever protection they want on their way back,’ Kerala IG S Sreejith said.
Darshan resume in Sabarimala after two women decide to turn back from shrine
The priests called off their protest after the two women who had almost made it to the shrine agreed to abort their journey. The protesting devotees also resumed the normal prayers after the women headed back to their homes.
Will take law in our hands if govt tries to escort another women to Sabarimala: BJP leader Surendran
Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Surendran said that one of the women was given police shield and uniform. “Who has given this to the women. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan must explain. The government is trying to create provocation deliberately. They are challenging the Ayyappa devotees. The government is trying to implement its agenda. We will not allow this. Sabarimala is not a place for this,” Surendran said.
“If the government is trying to implement its agenda in Sabarimala we will prevent it even by taking law into our hand. The government had earlier said that it will not take any women to Sabarimala. It is now taking them even giving the police unifrom to a woman,” Surendran added.
Oppostion Leader Ramesh Chennithala meets the Governor
‘Giving up plan to enter shrine because my life is under threat,’ says second woman trying to enter shrine
The second woman trying to enter the shrine said that she was returning as there is a threat to her life and property. “My house at Kochi has been attacked. The situation at Sabarimala now is not suitable for the entry of women to the temple,” she told Mathrubhumi channel.
‘Happy with protection provided, will try to come back again,’ says journalist trying to enter shrine
While on her way back from Sabarimala, journalist Kavitha told CNN-News18 said that she was happy with the protection she got. She also said that she will try to come back later.
“I am happy with the arrangements that we got. I feel that I am a winner. We will try to come back again,” Kavitha said. She said that the only reason she was turning back from the shrine was becasue there were small children also present there.
Kerala IGP confirms two women trying to enter shrine won’t force entry, says they will be escorted back safely
The two women – a journalist and a devotee -who were stopped 500 metres away from the 18 holy steps have agreed to return back. The main priest have informed police that temple rituals will be closed if the women are allowed entry to the temple. The two women will receive police protection on their way back to the base camp.
Kerala IGP Sreejith told media that the two women who reached the hill top have agreed to return without entering the temple. He said he had discussed with them the situation prevailing in the hill top and they agreed to cooperate. They have some concerns about returning. We will solve them and take them back safely
Two women en route shrine agree to turn around after hour-long showdown
The two women who were enroute the shrine have agreed to give up their journey. The police had requested them to abort their plan earlier as an unprecedented showdown ensued between the police and protesters. In fact the head priest had also threatened to shut down the temple had the women tried to force their way in.
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