Sabarimala row: Pune police arrests activist Trupti Desai

The Pune Police on Friday morning arrested the president of Bhumata Brigade and activist Trupti Desai after she along with other women activists threatened to block PM’s convoy.

Notably, Trupti Desai, who is leading the protest for women’s entry in Sabarimala temple, was marching towards Shirdi temple along with other protesters to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be visiting Shirdi temple today and question him about the violence faced by women in Kerala.

When detained, Desai said, “Even after the Supreme Court’s decision to allow women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, they are not being allowed inside. The women trying to enter the temple are being heckled and abused. The protestors are spreading violence and BJP is supporting it.”

“Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sai Baba temple. I want to ask him that if one can safely visit Sai Baba temple then why women are not being allowed inside Sabarimala after the Supreme Court’s decision. The police has detained us. They are not letting us move even a step forward. If such action was taken by the Kerala Police then the women could have easily entered Sabarimala,” she added.

Yesterday, Trupti had written a letter to SP Ahmednagar demanding to meet PM Modi to discuss Sabarimala temple issue. She had also threatened to stop his convoy if he doesn’t meet.

On Wednesday, the doors to Kerala’s Sabarimala temple was opened for the first time after the Supreme Court allowed women of all ages to enter the shrine. However, female devotees were halted by a wall of protesters who tried to intimidate journalists and locked horns with the police.

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