What happens when women defy patriarchy: Violent protests have paralysed southern Indian state of #Kerala after 2 women made history by entering a prominent Hindu temple.
One person was killed in clashes. Schools are closed & public transport suspended. bbc.com/news/world-asi…
One person was killed in clashes. Schools are closed & public transport suspended. bbc.com/news/world-asi…
The #Sabarimala temple was historically closed to women of "menstruating age" - defined as between 10 and 50.
The Supreme Court revoked the ban in September. On Wednesday, Bindu Ammini, 40, and Kanaka Durga, 39, entered the shrine around dawn and became the first women to do so.
The Supreme Court revoked the ban in September. On Wednesday, Bindu Ammini, 40, and Kanaka Durga, 39, entered the shrine around dawn and became the first women to do so.
The day before the two women made history by entering #Sabarimala temple, #Kerala had a historic protest for gender equality and against right-wing groups who oppose the Supreme Court’s lifting of the ban on women
Right-wing groups, supported by India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), demanded a state-wide shutdown. #Kerala govt, which supports the Supreme Court ruling, fearing violence, shut schools and shops. Buses did not run as protesters blocked highways & roads
More than 700 people were arrested in protests against the women’s entrance to the temple on Wednesday and Thursday. Sixty police officers were injured, more than 80 public buses were damaged and at least a dozen police vehicles were attacked. #Sabrimala
The ruling Hindu nationalist BJP has argued that Supreme Court ruling lifting the ban on women is an attack on Hindu values. Critics have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of pursuing a religiously divisive agenda to court the BJP's mostly-Hindu support base ahead of elections
The protests have turned into an ideological battle between the right and the left - most of the protesters belong to right-wing groups affiliated to the BJP; and those who support the court ruling are affiliated to #Kerala's left-wing coalition government. #SabarimalaProtest
