Kerala women panel member lauds RSS stand on temple entry

Thiruvananthapuram: A Kerala Women`s Commission member on Sunday welcomed the RSS` stand favouring entry of women into temples.

Lissy Jose, in a release issued here, said she welcomes the stand of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on the entry of women into temples, and hoped that other religions also follow suit.

"Today, in every sphere of activity, women are wanting equality and women between a specific age are not allowed entry into the Sabarimala temple. The RSS now says that including this issue, all issues should be taken up for discussion and a solution should emerge," said Jose.

Recalling that Pope Francis recently issued a decree revising the rules for the traditional foot-washing ritual on Holy Thursday, she said: "These are all changes that have taken place and other religions also should follow suit."

In January, Pope Francis in a decree asked that the foot-washing on Holy Thursday should no longer be limited to men and boys, but also include women and young girls.

The change in stand on allowing women entry into temples came on Saturday in a report by RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi submitted at the three-day Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha meeting at Nagaur in Rajasthan.

It said the "unfair" restriction on women entering temples should be taken up for discussion with the stakeholders.