Activist Rehana Fathima arrested for allegedly ‘hurting religious sentiments’
Kochi, Nov 27 : Activist Rehana Fathima, who had attempted to enter the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala when it opened for monthly puja last month, was arrested Tuesday for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through her Facebook posts, police said.
Fathima, 32, was arrested from office in Palarivattom in Kochi, a police officer said.
The activist, a BSNL employee, was booked by police in Pathanamthitta on a complaint by Radhakrishna Menon, alleging that some of her Facebook posts hurt religious sentiments.
She was booked under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code -- deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.
She was later taken to Pathanamathitta after her arrest, police said.
A controversy had erupted in Kerala after Fathima made an attempt to enter the Sabarimala temple when it was opened for monthly puja in October following the Supreme Court order allowing entry of women in the age group of 10-50.
Anticipating arrest, she had moved the high court seeking anticipatory bail, but it was rejected.
Dismissing the plea, the court had directed that police can take appropriate steps in the case.
Fathima, who was also part of 'Kiss of Love' movement in Kochi in 2014 against alleged moral policing, was among the two women who had reached the hilltop on October 19, but had to return before reaching the sanctum sanctorum due to massive protests by Ayyappa devotees.
Fathima and Hyderabad-based journalist Kavitha were taken to the hills with heavy police protection.
Some young women who tried to enter the temple were targeted by devotees when the temple was opened for six days on October 17 for the first time after the apex court order.
On September 28, the Supreme court had lifted the centuries-old ban on the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine, but a section of devotees is protesting the decision.
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Surjewala attacks Centre on LPG cylinder crisis, asks BJP how it will face voters
Bengaluru (PTI): Attacking the Narendra Modi-led government in the centre over the LPG cylinder crisis in the country, Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday asked the BJP, how will it go to the voters in poll-bound states.
Claiming that the country was facing a "huge crisis", he attacked the centre over the depreciation of the Indian rupee to Rs 93 against the US dollar, terming it "worrisome" for both the economy and employment.
Surjewala, who is also the party in charge of Karnataka, said that during the tenure of Manmohan Singh as PM, Modi had said that the "prestige of the prime minister falls when the value of the rupee declines". Then the value of the Indian Rupee against the USD was at Rs 54 for a dollar.
Speaking to reporters here, he alleged that despite the current situation, the government and the BJP remained "on mute mode", while ordinary households, small dhabas, restaurants and eateries were facing a severe crisis with a shortage of both commercial and domestic gas.
"Today, the Indian rupee has fallen to 93 rupees to a dollar, but the BJP, Prime Minister Modi and their government remains on a mute mode. Ordinary households, small dhabas and restaurants, and small eateries feel the crisis today. No commercial gas is available, no domestic gas is available," he claimed.
The Congress leader alleged that people were buying gas cylinders in black at Rs 1,300.
"At this price, we will have to employ a security guard to protect every cylinder in India," he said sarcastically and alleged that the BJP is not taking responsibility for the situation.
He further alleged that the Centre had raised the price of domestic gas twice and commercial gas thrice, and also increased the price of premium petrol and diesel.
"Tomorrow you will again raise the price of petrol and diesel. What should the ordinary Indian do? Does the BJP have any answer? Do they even have a right to go and seek votes?" he asked.
While Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry are facing Assembly polls, two seats in Karnataka -- Davangere South and Bagalkote -- will go for by-elections.
Speaking to reporters here, Surjewala demanded answers from BJP leaders and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy.
"We demand from Kumarswamy why he is keeping mum? Why are they quiet? Price of commercial gas goes up three times, price of domestic gas goes up two times, price of premium petrol and diesel goes up, price of petrol and diesel is about to go up," he said.
Alleging that while the unemployment rate for graduates in India is 67 per cent and the artificial intelligence revolution is leading to loss of jobs in India, he alleged that the BJP does only communal politics.
The Congress leader asserted that the BJP had no right to seek votes until it answered these questions.
