New Delhi:
A dawn-to-dusk 12-hour Kerala shutdown called by Hindu outfits began on Thursday morning in protest against the entry of two women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala temple of Lord Ayyappa. In view of the shutdown, Karnataka has stopped the stat-run bus services. Meanwhile, two protesters were arrested by the police in connection with yesterday's violence and stone-pelting incident in Pandalam. In Kozhikode, protesters blocked vehicles and burnt tyres in the morning. The shutdown, which began at 6 am, has been called by Sabarimala Karma Samithi, an umbrella organisation of various pro-Hindutva groups, spearheading protests against the Supreme Court's September 28 verdict, and the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP). A Hindustan Times report said that some devotees from Tamil Nadu called off their pilgrimage as they felt that the women’s entry had breached the ‘sanctity’ of the temple.
The BJP is supporting the shutdown while the Congress-led UDF is observing a "black day" on Thursday. Two women, Kanakadurga (44) and Bindu (42), created history be stepping into the hallowed precincts guarded by police three months after the Supreme Court's historic judgment lifting the ban on entry of girls and women between 10 and 50 years of age into the shrine of Lord Ayyappa, its "eternally celibate" deity.
As the news spread like wildfire from the hill shrine, protests erupted at several places, with Hindu right-wing activists blocking highways and forcing closure of shops and markets. BJP and CPI(M) workers clashed in front of the Secretariat for over five hours Wednesday as police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them. A 55-year-old man, who was seriously injured in stone throwing at Pandalam, died late Wednesday night.
Merchants' organisations have said they would not cooperate with the hartal and keep shops and business establishments open. Meanwhile, state DGP Loknath Behara has warned of strict action against those indulging in violence during the shutdown.
Various universities, including Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi, Calicut and Kannur have postponed their examinations scheduled for Thursday.
