Exclusive: We represent fight for gender justice, says woman who entered Sabarimala

Kanakadurga, 42, and Bindu Amini, 44, are the first women aged between 10 and 50 to have travelled to the Lord Ayyappa shrine since the Supreme Court struck down an entry ban on women in that age group 96 days ago. Both spoke to India Today TV.

One of the two women who entered Kerala's Sabarimala temple on Wednesday morning says the duo represents lakhs of woman devotees and the fight for gender justice.

Kanakadurga, 42, and Bindu Amini, 44, are the first women aged between 10 and 50 to have travelled to the Lord Ayyappa shrine since the Supreme Court struck down an entry ban on women in that age group 96 days ago. The temple was briefly closed today for purification rituals after their visit -- a move that prompted one Malayalam writer to call for the chief priest's removal. India Today TV spoke to both women.

"Apart from people with a political agenda, the others aren't protesting against us," said Bindu. She said "Naamajaba [chanting mantras] and BJP people" were protesting against them "in small ways".

Protests have roiled Kerala since the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict in September. The Congress and BJP, both opposition parties in Kerala, have opposed the Left Democratic Front government's efforts to implement the verdict.

"The two of us represent lakhs of woman devotees and the society fighting for gender justice," Bindu said.

Courtesy : India Today