New Delhi: Women activists on Tuesday voiced their support for those women set to march towards Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra to break the centuries old tradition of not allowing the feminine gender to enter the sanctum sanctorum.
The activists of Ranragini Bhumata Brigade led by Trupti Desai were stopped from marching towards the temple by the police near Supa in Maharasthra. They were also detained by the police for some time but were later released.
Former National Commission for Women chairperson Mamata Sharma criticised the police action and called for Centre's intervention in the matter.
"It is failure on part of the administration if they are stopping women. Those days are gone when people used to disallow women in temples. What administration is doing is wrong. Centre should intervene in this matter," she told ANI.
Another former NCW member Shamina Shafiq asked Maharashtra Government to withdraw the police force and allow the women to worship.
"It is very unfortunate, it is a black day for women. Why is entire police force on Maharashtra against those women? They are simply demanding their right to pray. Political masters in Maharashtra should intervene and immediately withdraw police," she told ANI.
After being stopped by the police near Supa in Maharasthra, activist Trupti Desai said that it was a black day for women as they were being stopped from exercising their rights.
The temple drew attention in November 2015 after a woman had offered prayers at the popular shrine in 'breach' of the age-old practice of prohibiting entry of women, after which the temple committee had to suspend seven security men and the villagers to perform purification rituals.
The temple platform attracts millions of tourists and devotees from across the country and abroad.
