Women of Kerala create history
Women of Kerala have created history again. Having asserted their identity and right to cover their breasts about a century ago, the women of Kerala have again made a mark for themselves by having entered the sanctum sanctorum of Ayyappa Swami temple. With this, they have also upheld the dignity and honour of Supreme Court verdict, along with constitutional values with their act. The leftist government of Kerala had vowed to ensure the verdict of the Supreme Court would be held up, under all circumstances, has held up the word. About 50lakh women had formed a women’s wall along the length of the state, starting from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram.
Even as this news was fresh on people’s minds, two women Bindu and Kanakadurga entered the temple of Ayyappa Swamy in Sabarimala, breaking the barrier that stopped them from entering the temple since ages. This barrier was put up by the narrow minded traditionalists for their own benefit. The restriction to women between ages of 10 and 50 is not something that was laid down by the god, but by people. This is an irrational, unscientific and evil belief created and circulated by patriarchal society. This has no space in modern society.
Supreme Court had ruled recently that women have to be given equal opportunity to enter the temple just as men. This has to be implemented by any elected government. Hence, the Pinarayi government that has strong left roots had voiced its commitment to ensure the verdict would be implemented. The Sangh Parivar and BJP were waiting for a change to set foot into Kerala and this ruling came as a big chance to make that happen. Hence they started some violent protests in the name of dissidence.This violence, stone pelting and other ruckus scared the devotees and the number of believers visiting the temple came down. This showed on the income of the temple too. Even then, BJP didn’t reduce its Goondagiri. National President of BJP Amit Shah who should have told his state unit members to not engage in violence, came down to the state and encouraged them to get into more damaging behavior. The person sitting in the chair of PM never parted his lips to even speak against this violence. Now, all of a sudden, he has woken up from the slumber and has spoken about the issues surrounding this verdict.
The tradition of the temple is that women between ages of 10 and 50 shouldn’t enter the temple. Every temple would have its tradition and people believe it should be followed. Nothing is more humiliating than this. What can one expect from people who wanted to bury the constitution and bring in Manu Smriti as a quasi-constitution? Such people need to remember something. Kerala has its own share of wonderful social reforms. Protests had happened owing to entry into the temples such as Vaikum and Guruvayur movements as well. This is a land of rational thinkers such as Narayana Guru, Ayyan Kali, Chattambi Swami, Kelappan and AKG among the others. This is the land where they walked. On a ground like this, there is no space for regressive RSS and other Sangh elements that propose and follow Manu. This has been made clear in Kerala again. People have upheld the constitution and rejected blind practices,
BJP has no other issues to go close to people except for those such as Baba Budan Giri and Sabarimala, to create a base for itself down South. Their government has to face people’s ire over badly managed demonetization, GST implementation and inflation. BJP has not fulfilled any promise they made to the people of this country. Which is why the party had to taste defeat in the election of five states. Opportunist Congress has also joined hands with communal forces in Kerala since there is no tandem between the national president of this party and its state chief. Cong feels hindus will vote for them if they join hands with the BJP on this.
The upper caste vested interests who cannot tolerate an Ezava (lower caste) man Pinarayi Vijayan being the CM of the state, have joined hands with the Sangh on this. A cartoon depicting a man preparing arrack with a tagline of “this is what happens if arrack brewers become the CM” has already stirred huge controversy. Those who want to keep women away from the temples in the name of tradition, will also want lower castes to stay away from temples in the name of same tradition. The Hindu rashtra that they want to build, has same dangerous elements. A big congrats to the leftist government, and progressive women who offered a major setback to the traditionalists and restricted minds who had threatened to take Kerala to dark ages. The state proved itself literate through this step.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
