BJP workers stage 'protest' against Kerala government in Parliament

The party said the state government is 'systematically using state machinery to target Ayyappa devotees and BJP leaders'.

"BJP MPs staged a protest in Parliament against the oppressive Communist regime in Kerala, which has been systematically using state machinery to target Ayyappa devotees and BJP leaders. #SaveKeralaFromCommunists," the BJP tweeted.

One of the BJP MP's-  Shobha Karandlaje- who participated in the protest, tweeted: "Participated in the Protest Dharna along with other @BJP4India MPs infront of Gandhi statue,against the on going attack by the CPM Goons & Police on Hindus across Kerala Communists are trying to destroy the temple,which is a centre of Hindu reformation #SaveKeralaFromCommunists ."

BJP leader Amit Malviya posted: "BJP MPs stand up against the tyranny of the Communists in Kerala. #SaveKeralaFromCommunists."

Kerala has been on a boil since the two women's entry with political parties observing protests across the state. Last week, crude bombs were hurled at a BJP leader's house. Police have arrested more than 1,000 people.

Two women create history:

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said the two women in their mid 40s entered the shrine on Wednesday with police protection, media reports said.

Video footage of the incident, where two women could be seen entering the temple, has gone viral on social media.

The women reportedly reached the temple around 3:45 am.

According to some media reports, these two women have been identified as activists Bindhu and Kanaka Durga.

After the women's entry,  the temple was closed for "purification rituals", a move that was slammed by various outfits saying it was practising untouchability.

Why is the controversy?

On Sept 28, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court had lifted the ban on women's entry into the Sabarimala temple declaring the relevant rules as unconstitutional.

For centuries, menstruating women had been banned from entering the temple in devotion to Lord Ayyappa.  

Following the top court's verdict, the shrine opened on Oct 18 for the first time allowing menstruating women, belonging to the age group of 10 to 50, to enter the temple.

However, several men and women had protested outside the temple, and tried to prevent the entry of women in the shrine.

Congress, BJP on same page:

With the elections round the corner and the emergence of BJP in the state, the Congress is singing in the tune of the saffron party in Kerala.

Though Congress president Rahul Gandhi last year urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rise above politics by lending an unconditional support to the BJP in the Lok Sabha on women's reservation bill, the Sabarimala issue has exposed a different stand of the country's oldest party.

On Thursday, when the BJP supported a statewide shutdown called by right-wing organisations, the Congress observed a "black-day" in Kerala, apparently remaining in the same page with BJP on the issue of women's entry in Sabarimala.

Protests break out after women's entry:

Kerala was on an edge as several protests broke out after the two women's entry into Sabarimala temple on Wednesday. On Thursday, three BJP women were reportedly stabbed in a clash in Thrissur.

Chandran Unnithan (55), Sabarimala Karma Samithi activist, who was injured in a clash during the protest against women's entry into Sabarimala temple on Wednesday, has died.

Image: Amit Malviya Twitter page