Maharashtra Shani temple row: Board likely to enter into a discussion

On Tuesday, chief minister Fadnavis tweeted in favour of the demand for allowing women to enter the sanctum of the Shani Shingnapur temple saying that Indian culture and Hindu religion gives women the right to pray. He urged the temple authorities to resolve the problem through a dialogue.

Maharashtra's home minister Ram Shinde has said that the government will mediate between the temple authorities and the women activists to find a solution to the problem, according to local media reports.

As per latest reports, members of the temple's board have expressed a willingness to enter into a dialogue.

The Shani Shingnapur temple has a centuries-old custom that bars women from nearing the sanctum of the temple.

Bhumata Ranragini Brigade, a women's group is protesting against this age-old custom.

The group was stopped on Tuesday by the police and local villagers from marching to the temple and force an entry.

According to reports, the women, who were planning to enter a section in the temple where a stone considered holy and representative of Lord Shani is installed, were stopped 40 km away, at a checkpoint in Supa.

The women activists said they want to end the ban on women entering the inner-most part of the temple, where the idol is placed on an open-air platform. 

However, the temple's priests and the members of the board that runs the shrine had said the demand was unacceptable.