KERALA GOVT MAY ARRANGE SEPARATE DAYS FOR WOMEN TO VISIT SABARIMALA TEMPLE

Amid the ongoing controversy over the Sabarimala temple, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that his government may arrange separate days for women between the ages of 10 and 50 to visit the shrine. The revered Lord Ayyappa Temple is all set to open tomorrow.

Vijayan said he would talk to the head priest as well as representatives of the Pandalam palace to see if the plan can be implemented as he made it clear during an all-party meeting that the government would not back down from implementing the Supreme Court verdict.

Urging devotees to understand the government's position, Vijayan said their beliefs cannot be above fundamental rights of women. “As a law enforcing land, we don’t have any other way. This is our appeal to devotees,” he said during a press conference.

“The government is with devotees. Will give security to them. There is no need for concern,” he added. The shrine is all set to open for the Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.