INDIA
Ahead of elections, Chandy plays it safe.
Amid debate on the issue of entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 in the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Sunday made it clear that his government would not interfere in the customs and traditions of the hill shrine.
"Government doesn't interfere beyond a point on matters with regard to (religious) customs and faith," Chandy said when asked about the stand of his government on the issue. The Chief Minister, who is in the midst of the assembly election campaign, said his government has already made its stand clear on the issue of Sabarimala where entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 is banned. "There are persons who have the right to deal with matters related to faith and customs...Let them take decisions on such issues," Chandy told PTI, reacting to a query.
When it was pointed out that some Hindu organisations and even the RSS have supported women's entry at temples, Chandy said, "We don't want to get into that controversy." "This is a matter related to customs and faith. There are people who have the right to take decisions on such issues," he said. Last week, two religious bodies moved the Supreme Court supporting a PIL seeking entry of women in the Sabarimala Temple, saying no ritual or customs can be used as grounds to discriminate against women in the matter of worship.
Kerala-based bodies-- Hind Navotthana Pratishtan, through President Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha and Narayanashrama Tapovanam, through its Managing Trustee Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha, have filed the plea seeking to intervene in the PIL, being heard by a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra. "No temple ritual, ceremony or custom can be made any ground for discriminating against women in the matter of worshipping in any temple, including Sabarimala, as it is a clear violation of the constitutional equality and freedom guaranteed for men and women alike," the plea, filed through lawyer Ravi P Mehrotra, has said.
Earlier, the court had said gender equality was a "constitutional message" and ban on entry of women of a particular age group in Sabarimala shrine cannot be claimed as a right to manage religious affairs by its management. On January 11, the apex court had questioned the ban on the entry of women of menstrual age group at the Lord Ayyappa temple, while hearing the PIL.
Here's why Abhishek Bachchan was absent from Aishwarya Rai’s cousin’s birthday celebration
Akash Ambani postponed his wedding with Shloka Mehta due to..., know story here
Zimbabwe create world record, post highest team score in T20 cricket history
Here's how Isha Ambani spent her birthday eve with Radhika Merchant
PM Modi, President Xi hold structured bilateral talks at BRICS Summit, first in 5 years
Aabha Paul's Gandii Baat brings legal trouble for Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor, makers booked under...
Watch: Sara Arfeen Khan to get evicted from Bigg Boss 18 house due to this shocking reason
PAK vs ENG: Pakistan announce playing XI for third Test against England
Shah Rukh Khan gifts luxurious car to son AbRam, it is equipped with refrigerator, TV and costs Rs…
IND vs NZ 2nd Test: Predicted playing XIs, live streaming, pitch report and weather forecast of Pune
Viral video: Man climbs high tension pole, makes this bizarre demand, WATCH what happened next
Rishabh Pant overtakes Virat Kohli in ICC Test batters' rankings; Rohit Sharma drops two places
Fake or real paneer: How to check its purity at home?
IND vs NZ, 2nd Test Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs New Zealand match
Shradhha Kapoor uses Shah Rukh Khan's name to distract paparazzi, gets trolled
How To Prepare For The UPSC CSE 2025 Exam?
'India supports dialogue and diplomacy, not war': PM Modi at BRICS Summit
This woman lost in Dubai's desert orders camel via Uber, netizens say 'your camel has arrived'
After BIG announcement, shares of Anil Ambani's Reliance surge by 5%, market cap reaches Rs...
Good news for Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Paytm gets NPCI nod to..., shares surge over 7%
Fan requests Rohit Sharma to deliver her message to Virat Kohli, here's how Indian captain responded
Rajkummar Rao recalls being scammed in Delhi during struggle days: 'The man had...'
Robbers pose as customers in jewellery shop, what owner did next will leave you shocked
Maharashtra Elections 2024: NCP releases 1st list of 38 candidates; Ajit Pawar to contest from…
Japanese Shah Rukh Khan leaves Bollywood Badshah's fan impressed, social media says...
Will KL Rahul be retained by LSG ahead of IPL Auction? New report provides BIG update, it says...
'Wayanad will have two MPs': Rahul Gandhi after Priyanka files nomination for bypolls
I Want To Talk teaser: Abhishek Bachchan announces his next with Shoojit Sircar, to release on...
Diwali 2024: When is Deepawali, October 31 or November 1? Check dates, mahurat timings and more
JEE Main 2025 exam date to release TODAY: Know how to register, check exam calendar HERE
Jhalmuri fever hits London: Video of British man selling Kolkata-style street food goes viral, watch
SC slams Centre as Delhi air worsens, calls environment laws...
Ex-cricketer suggests replacing KL Rahul with THIS batsman for 2nd Test vs NZ, he is…
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee smashes bottle, hurls it towards Chair in row over Waqf meet
Know how Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's children Isha Ambani and Akash Ambani got their names
Family finds venomous snakes under their bed, what happened next will leave you in shock
This company's Vice President gets fired after raise and bonus, reason will leave you shocked
Mukesh Ambani-led Jio Financial eyes JVs with Allianz SE in insurance sector
IMD's BIG update: Cyclone Dana forms over Bay of Bengal, to cross Odisha-Bengal coasts on...
This company gifts cars as Diwali bonus, calls its employees celebrities, is owned by…
Amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan skips her family gathering
When Ratan Tata opened up about his parents separation, first love and childhood, he said...
Blow to Mukesh Ambani ahead of Isha Ambani, Akash Ambani's birthday, Reliance stocks...
Saudi Arabia's futuristic megacity project Neom a big threat to migratory birds? Experts say...
Apple CEO Tim Cook didn’t know about this iPhone feature, left speechless, know here
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio offers superhit Diwali plan, unlimited 5G internet for just Rs...
Bengaluru Rains: Schools closed, WFH advisory for private companies as IMD issues yellow alert
Israel confirms killing of Hashem Safieddine, presumed successor of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah
Big move by Anil Ambani, his company to invest Rs 10000 crore to set up India's largest...
Meet Indian genius, who was born in small town, today leads AI innovations of Google, she is...
Woman stays at luxury resort worth Rs 3 lakh for free, claims she used...
Delhi AQI update: Air quality worsens to 'very poor' level at 349, becomes 'severe' in these areas
PM Modi to hold bilateral talks with Xi Jinping at BRICS Summit today
Odisha, West Bengal brace for Cyclone Dana: How was it named and what it means?
POCSO case: Mumbai Police ask Ekta Kapoor, her mother to appear for questioning tomorrow
Watch: Can you identify all the actors in this clip from 1991?
Priyanka Gandhi to file nomination for Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll today
Meet woman, whose father used to sell milk, cracked UPSC exam with AIR 62 to become...
Delhi: No water supply in Capital for 12 hours on Friday due to…; check list of affected areas
Salman Khan resumes shooting for Sikandar amid death threats from Lawrence Bishnoi
India, Pakistan extend Kartarpur Sahib corridor agreement for five years
DNA TV Show: What is BRICS currency? Is it possible to introduce it today?