Sabarimala temple row: BJP begins dawn-to-dusk hunger strike in front of Kerala DGP's office over arrest of protesters

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP workers on Tuesday began a dawn-to-dusk hunger strike in front of Kerala DGP’s office here, thus intensifying its agitation against the CPI(M)-led LDF government’s crackdown on Sabarimala protesters. BJP cadres also took out marches to offices of the Superintendent of Police in all district headquarters to condemn the government for arresting the agitators. Addressing party workers in Thiruvananthapuram, BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pillai alleged the ruling CPM was on the road to “liquidation” and the party’s graph was coming down. [caption id=“attachment_5425131” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Protests against the Supreme Court verdict in the Sabarimala case. PTI[/caption] Former Union minister and party’s lone MLA in the state assembly, O Rajagopal, was also present. Veteran Marxist leader MM Lawrence’s grandson was among the protesters. Over 3,500 people have so far been arrested and 529 cases registered in connection with the protests and demonstrations against the implementation of the Supreme court verdict allowing women of all age groups into the Lord Ayyappa temple. BJP national president Amit Shah, who was in Kerala on 27 October had extended full support to the devotees protesting the entry of women of all ages into the shrine. The saffron party had announced that it would be taking out a ‘Rath Yatra’ from Kasaragod to Pathnamthitta, where the Sabarimala temple is located, from 8 to 13 November to “save the customs and traditions” of the hill shrine. The temple had witnessed high drama after around a dozen women in the 10-50 age group were prevented by protesting devotees from entering it after the temple doors were opened for monthly pujas between 17 and 22 October. The Lord Ayyappa temple’s three month-long pilgrim season is commencing from 17 November and the state government has reiterated that all devotees would be allowed to offer prayers at the shrine. The temple will also open for a day on 5 November for a special pooja.