She also said that similar agitations will happen around India at all places which bar women from entering. They will create a human chain before these so-called activists reach the location.
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“The temple and dargah trusts do not have the authority either from religious or legal sources to discriminate against anyone”.
Former Chairperson of Maharashtra State Women Commission Susie Ben Shah said “God is equal to all and right to worship is also equal to all”.
Janata Dal United leader Sharad Yadav on Tuesday came in support of the women activists protesting against the entry ban in Shani Shingnapur temple, saying that women who belong to weaker sections have been facing discrimination for thousands of years.
Ahmednagar police stopped the activists of “Ranaragini Bhoomata Brigade” protesting against the alleged gender bias by the temple authorities, led by Trupti Desai, at Supa, about 70 km from the temple premises, foiling their bid to offer worship at the sacred platform, traditionally barred for women.
The protesters want access to pray in its inner sanctum, but were stopped in a village 70km (43 miles) from their destination in Maharashtra state.
“The manner in which the police behaved with us is objectionable…”
“We were marching peacefully”.
“Desai, while speaking to reporters amid the stand-off, said that action against them was “condemnable” and that it was a “black day” for women as well as Indian democracy on the Republic Day”.
Desai, who was detained along with few other protesters by the Police from Supa village, was released immediately.
The women, members of the Bhumata Ranragini Brigade, were planning to forcibly enter the temple that only allows men inside its inner sanctum.
But their efforts to control access to the temple have been made more hard by a tradition unique to Shani Shingnapur – the entire village has no doors or locks, due to the belief that Lord Shani will protect its inhabitants.
The temple platform attracts millions of tourists and devotees from across the country and overseas.
However, barring the temple priests, none is permitted to climb the nine steps up to the actual stone idol that represents the deity. “Shani bhagwan will be very happy for women coming inside and offering prayers”, said the popular religious guru, who has been this year chosen for Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second highest civilian award.
Shani Shingnapur is known as the only village where houses do not have doors and locks, and the village remains theft-free.
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Although the temple itself has a much older history, the present form of management of its activities is over five centuries old, Surpuriya said.
