<ul><li>The <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> is reviewing the entry of women of all ages into the temple.</li><li>The Supreme Court today moved the matter to a seven member bench, from the current five bench judgement.</li><li>Before the last SC verdict women of menstruating age were not allowed to enter the temple because the deity is believed to celibate. </li></ul>The controversial <keyword id="498405" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sabarimala-case">Sabarimala case</keyword> shows no signs of dying down. The Supreme Court today moved the matter to a seven member bench, from the current five bench judgment. The petitions that were filed to review its earlier judgment are kept pending. The Court needs time to review the matter, said a lawyer who was speaking outside the Supreme Court. 
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 The top court is reviewing the entry of women of all ages into the temple. Before the last SC verdict women of menstruating age were not allowed to enter the temple because the deity is believed to celibate. Today's appeal is expected to settle the debate once and for all. The Supreme Court with a 5-judge bench led by <keyword id="548459" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chief-Justice-Ranjan-Gogoi">Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi</keyword> was reviewing 64 petitions which had challenged its earlier verdict. Last year, in a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court had allowed menstruating women between the age group of 10-50 to enter the temple. The earlier verdict was passed by a 5-judge bench which included the then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, and Justices A. M. Khanwilkar, R. F. Nariman, Indu Malhotra and D. Y. Chandrachud. It wasn’t a unanimous judgment with the only woman on the panel Justice Indu Malhotra opposing the decision where she had said that the rational arguments cannot be applied to matters of religion and that religious practices are more complex than the right to equality. Then, the body which manages the <keyword id="453325" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sabarimala-temple">Sabarimala temple</keyword> – the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the custodians of the temple, the Pandalam royal family had expressed its disappointment with the verdict. Since then, the temple has seen multiple protests from both sides of the party – the temple authorities have challenged the court’s verdict, while women have on different occasions <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/two-women-below-50-enter-keralas-sabarimala-temple-police-sources-1971204">sneaked into</a> the temple and were escorted by cops. The Mandala season is here From Wednesday, the security at Sabarimala temple, which opens its doors on Sunday for devotees for the two-month long festival, has been tightened before the verdict. According to IANS, the police have classified the two month long season ⁠— from November to January ⁠— into four segments with the first two weeks starting on November 15 to November 29 and in all 2,551 police personnel would be posted in and around the temple complex.

Supreme Court moves Sabarimala case to a 7-judge bench

<ul><li>Thousands of women came together to form a human chain and stand up against the patriarchal traditions of the <keyword id="453325" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sabarimala-temple">Sabarimala Temple</keyword> in the southern Indian state of Kerala. </li><li>The 620 km ‘Women’s Wall’ pledged to uphold ‘Renaissance values’ and to ‘stand for the equality of women’. </li><li>The chief minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan and the state’s health minister, KK Shylaja, were also a part of the peaceful protest. </li><li>The event is being dubbed a historic moment for feminist politics, not just in the state, but in India.</li></ul>Not just the general public, but politicians and celebrities alike, rallied together as the New Year began on January 1 to <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/womens-wall-in-kerala-vanitha-mathil_in_5c2b47d8e4b0407e90858ba2">stand up against</a> the patriarchal norms of <keyword id="6384180" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sabarimala">Sabarimala</keyword> temple, where women of all ages were recently allowed to enter as per the Indian Supreme Court’s <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/supreme-court-of-india-lifts-ban-women-of-all-ages-can-now-enter-sabarimala-temple/articleshow/65993339.cms">judgement</a>. The ‘Women’s Wall’ stretched across 620 kilometers, which is thrice the length of Singapore’s coastline, passing through all the districts of Kerala — a southern Indian state and the location of Sabarimala Temple. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The 15-minute event is being perceived as a ‘defining’ movement for feminist politics in the country where progressive Hindu organisations also came to give their support. The men also formed a wall parallel to the ‘Women’s Wall’ to show their solidarity towards gender equality and women’s rights. The participants of the ‘Women’s Wall’ made a pledge at the event which read, “We are taking the pledge that we will uphold Renaissance values, we will stand for equality for women, we resist the attempts to make Kerala a lunatic asylum, and we will fight for secularism.” 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The peaceful protest was organised by the ruling party, CPI(M) and included members from more than 176 other socio-political organisations. The resistance Even when the Sabarimala Temple was originally deemed <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/protestors-flock-as-this-indian-temple-finally-opens-its-gate-to-women/articleshow/66257966.cms">open to women of all ages</a>, protestors flocked to its gate in resistance. The original ‘traditions’ dictate that women between the ages of 10 to 50 years are barred from praying at Lord Ayyappa's shrine. Since October, the local tribal community, devotees and local organisations have wreaked havoc by not allowing women of childbearing age to get past the temple’s gates. Any women who have tried to ream past the mob in order to enter the temple has either had to turn back due to fatigue from fighting off the protestors, has been cut off from the gates from being outnumbered, or had stones thrown to keep them from progressing. The local police have been trying to aid the women trying to trek up to the temple, sometimes even in riot gear, but hasn’t had much luck. According to the state’s chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, two women did break through the gates and <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sabarimala-temple-live-updates-shrine-shut-for-purification-after-2-women-enter-1971269">prayed at the temple</a> — but immediately after, priests shut down the hill shrine to perform ‘purification rituals’. India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, appears to have taken the side of the conservative protestors. In an <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-ani-interview-triple-talaq-sabarimala-issue-smita-prakash-1421336-2019-01-01">interview</a> with ANI, he pointed to the fact that certain temples do not allow the entry of men, though he did not cite any specific examples. His political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has previously spoken out against the Supreme Court’s decision in favouring women’s equality. Even Amit Shah, the current spokesperson for BJP, has come out to <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1056133606186409990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1056133606186409990&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2019%2F01%2F01%2Fasia%2Findia-kerala-chain-intl%2Findex.html">state</a> that the fight in Kerala is one between the ‘people of faith’ and an ‘oppressive’ state government. Here are some pictures from the one of the largest human chains in the world- 
	
	
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‘Women’s Wall’ thrice the length of Singapore’s coastline is standing up against patriarchy in India

<ul><li>“Essential” religious practices will be termed as “unconstitutional” if they discriminate on grounds of <keyword id="6360838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="caste">caste</keyword> or sex, the SC said. </li><li>The apex court evoked the fundamental right to equality and Article 25(2) to give this verdict in the <keyword id="75061" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sabarimala-Ayyappa-temple">Sabarimala Ayyappa temple</keyword> case. </li><li>The temple did not let women between the age of 10 to 50 years, enter its premises. However, SC said that it was unconstitutional. </li></ul>The Supreme Court has recently given the <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/essential-religious-practices-if-biased-can-be-struck-down-supreme-court/articleshow/65141215.cms">judgement </a>that “essential and integral” religious practices can be struck down if they are biased. The apex court said that practices were “unconstitutional” if they discriminated on grounds of caste or sex and that the fundamental rights would be upheld against them. Thus verdict was announced when the SC was hearing petitions challenging the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple’s custom of barring women, between the ages of 10 and 50, from entering the temple. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, called upon <keyword id="2598255" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Article-15">Article 15</keyword>, which establishes the Fundamental right to equality, and <keyword id="4535312" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="article-25">Article 25</keyword> (2), which bestows a duty on constitutional courts and governments to act against any religious practice that is discriminatory towards women. The senior advocate and former attorney general K Parasaran, who was the lawyer appearing in the court on behalf of the <keyword id="378621" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nair-Service-Society">Nair Service Society</keyword>, an organisation created for the upliftment and welfare of the Nair community, argued that the temple does not discriminate against women, entirely. It lets women below the age of 10 years and above the age of 50 years enter the temple. He further added that Lord Ayyappa, in whose honour the temple was built, is a celibate pristine God and therefore, fertile or menstruating women are not allowed to enter the premises. The argument caused a halt in the bench’s desire to test the temple’ customs in terms of the constitutional provisions. However, the court soon decided to reply by quoting Article 25 (2) which says that legislature can enact a law to provide for "social welfare and reforms or throwing open of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus". The judges also added that this article applies to all religious institutions and not just Hindus. Though Parasaran acknowledged it, he also argued that the Constitution preserves the Fundamental Right that protects the practices and customs which are integral to a religious denomination. In response, the judges pointed out that if the practice or custom is biased, like barring a certain group from entering the temple, the legislature is empowered by the Constitution, itself, to enact a law and throw open the temple to everyone. And since, untouchability and discrimination on the ground of sex are prohibited under the Constitution, the Sabarimala Temple custom of barring the entry of women of a certain age group could also fall foul of constitutional ethos or could be termed unconstitutional, the jury declared.

Essential and integral religious practices can be overruled if they are biased: SC

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 12 (): Days after it reopened for devotees following the 75-day lockdown, the famed Lord Krishna temple at Guruvayoor on Friday decided against allowingworshippers from tomorrow in view of the rising COVID-19 cases. The shrine had opened onJune9 after the centre unveiled 'Unlock 1.0',its graded exit plan from the COVID-19 lockdown, allowing malls, restaurants and places of worship to open across the country after they remained out of bounds since March 25. Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran told reporters thatthe government decided to close the temple for devotees from tomorrow, taking into account the rise in the coronavirus cases in Thrissur district,where the shrine is located. . "The Guruvayoor temple authoritieshave decided not to allow devotees into the temple from tomorrow. However, the two weddings,which were decided earlier, will be allowed to be conducted," he said. . Chavakkad, an area near Guruvayur, and a panchayat near the temple have been declared as a containment zone. After considering all these circumstances, the temple authoritiestook the decision to close the temple,he said. However, the daily rituals will be held. Yesterday, the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala had also decided against allowing worshippers when it opens for the monthly pujas on June 14 after the thantri (priest) shot off a letter to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), against allowing devotees in view of the rise in coronavirus cases in the state in the past one month. . The annual festival, which was to be held from June 19, had also been postponed. The Padmanabha swamy temple here will open for devotees only after June 30. RRT UDBN WELCOME WELCOME

Citing rising COVID-19 cases, Guruvayoor temple also decides not to allow devotees

Thiruvananthapuram, Incessant <keyword id="6385438" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Heavy-rains" source="Orion">heavy rains</keyword>, accompanied by thunder and lightning, continued to batter many districts of Kerala on Thursday, prompting authorities to urge people to exercise extra vigil in high ranges and low-lying areas there. As hilly areas witnessed landslides and mudslides in Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts, intense waterlogging affected the normal life of people in several places, cutting across villages and towns. Continuous rains flooded several low-lying areas of Thiruvananthapuram, disrupting normal life and creating <keyword id="44874" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="traffic-snarls" source="Orion">traffic snarls</keyword>. The water level in the canals of Parvathi Puthanar and Amayizhanchan Thodu, criss-crossing through the heart of the capital city, rose, causing concern among local residents and authorities. Quoting weather reports, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the rain is likely to continue under the influence of the low pressure in the Bay of Bengal. Many areas of the state received intense rains on Wednesday night and continuous downpours are expected today and tomorrow afternoons, he said while addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the Nava Kerala Sadas in Wayanad, an outreach programme of the state government. The water level in major rivers in Pathanamthitta, where a red alert was sounded by the India Meteorological Department, was rising due to continuous rains, authorities said. A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours. In the wake of heavy rains in the district, Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan directed the district collector and the district police chief to monitor the security arrangements for Sabarimala pilgrims. <keyword id="765174" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Heavy-waterlogging" source="Orion">Heavy waterlogging</keyword> was reported on the Pathanamthitta-Thiruvalla and Punalur-Muvattupuzha roads. Widespread destruction of agriculture and damage to properties were reported in the Thiruvalla and Konni areas and traffic was disrupted on Kumali-Munnar road as uprooted trees blocked vehicles. The hilly areas of Nedumangadu and Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram also witnessed heavy rains. The shutters of Kallarkutty and Pambla dams in Idukki districts were raised in the morning due to increased water levels following heavy rains in their catchment areas. In the wake of the raising of the shutters in the dams, the Idukki district collector urged people living on the shores of the Periyar and Muthirapuzhayar rivers to exercise extra vigil. The collector also directed officials concerned to take necessary precautionary measures to ensure the safety of local residents in case of any emergency. Detailing various measures taken by the government, Vijayan said one relief camp each was opened in Thiruvananthapuram and Pathanamthitta districts and 38 people have been shifted to safer places in Kollam. Waterlogging and crop destruction were reported in Thrissur and Pathanamthitta districts respectively, he said. As many as 15 places have received more than 100 mm of rain in the last eight hours, the chief minister detailed. The Sabarimala pilgrimage is progressing smoothly and directions have been issued to pay special vigil in the areas connected to the annual event. No major dams have been opened in the state and only small reservoirs in Idukki and Thiruvananthapuram have been opened so far, he said. Vijayan said though the water level in Mullaperiyar Dam rose to 135 ft, there is no dangerous situation as of now. In addition to district emergency centres, taluk emergency centres were also directed to be made operational in the state, he said. An online meeting, chaired by state Revenue Minister K Rajan , took stock of the situation prevailing in the state in the morning, the chief minister added.

Heavy rains continue to batter Kerala - Heavy waterlogging in many districts

Kochi, Jun 30 () BSNL has served a notice asking controversial activist and its dismissed employee Rehana Fathima to vacate from its residential quarters here, citing the recent police raid on her house and registration of a POCSO case over a video posted by her on social media. The police action has 'tarnished' its image, the state- owned telecom major said. Fathima, who made a vain bid to enter the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in 2018, was booked last week after she posed semi-nude in front of her minor children, allowing them to paint on her bare body and sharing the video on social media. Police on June 25 had carried out a search at her house in the BSNL quarters at Panampilly Nagar as part of the probe in the case registered under various sections of POCSO Act and the IT Act by the city police. The case was filed based on a report filed by Cyberdom, the cyber wing of Kerala police, for posting an "offensive" video titled "Body and Politics" on social media. "The above event tarnished the image of BSNL. Hence you are instructed to vacate the quarters within 30 days from the date of receipt of this notice, failing which further proceedings will be initiated for eviction", said the June 27 notice, copy of which has been made available to media. As she ceased to be a BSNL employee, Fathima was ineligible to occupy the company quarters, it said. Fathima was sacked from employment by the BSNL in May this year for her intentional act of outraging the religious feelings of devotees through social media posts. The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights had earlier sought a report from police on the video matter and said case should be registered against the woman under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The activist has last week moved the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail, apprehending arrest in the POCSO case. After the Supreme Court allowed women in traditionally barred age groups of 10-50 into the Sabarimala temple in September 2018, Fathima made an attempt to enter the hill shrine, but had to retreat following protests by Hindu activists and devotees. TGB VS VS

BSNL directs ex-employee-activist Fathima to vacate quarters

Thiruvananthapuram, June 11 () Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday appreciated the religious leaders who have decided not to open the places of worship considering the COVID-19 situation in the state and said it was the best decision to be taken in this scenario. Vijayan was responding to a question with regardto closure of Sabarimala temple after it was decided to open it from June 8 and to conduct the festival from June 19. He said those who are rejoicing now saying the government decided to close the temple needs to understand that the state government was following the centre's directions. "A central minister questioned the state government and asked why we were opening the liquor outlets while keeping the religious places closed. We were just following the centre's guidelines in this matter," Vijayan said. He said on May 30, the centre issued an order saying certain activities can be allowed from June 8. "The centre said religious places and places of worship for the public can be opened. Later a detailed guideline was issued on how to open such places. We just followed that. But, just imagine, if the state government had decided not to open the places of worship despite the centre's guidelines, then, what would have been the situation? I feel that they were expecting that," Vijayan said. He said the state government has discussed the matter with all the stakeholders in this matter and agreed to open the places of worship following protocol. "Now, most of theplaces of worship had decided not to open. We do not have any kind of opposition in that matter. That was the best decision to be taken considering today's scenario.I appreciate them for that matter," Vijayan said. State Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran had earlier in the day informed that devotees will not be allowed to offer prayers at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple, when it opens for the monthly pujas from June 14. The shrine has been out of bounds for the worshippers since March 24, due to the coronavirus induced lockdown. The 10-day temple festival from June 19 has been postponed for the second time. It was to have been held in March this year, but had been deferred due to the coronavirus situation. The government's volte face came a day after temple thantri shot off a letter to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) against allowing devotees in the shrine as the positive cases in the state was on the rise. Devotees from southern states also visit the hill shrine in large numbers. Union minister, V Muraleedharan had earlier attacked the state government after it allowed re-opening of temples from June 9, saying it was a "hasty decision". The decision not to allow devotees to the hill shrine when it opens on June 14 for the monthly poojas was taken at a meeting called by Surendran in which Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president, N Vasu and temple priest Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu participated. The government had earlier decided to allow devotees from June 14, when it opens for the monthly puja and the 10-day festival from June 19. Earlier, Surendran said the TDB had sought the opinion of the Thanthris of Sabarimala and declared that they have agreed to the opening of the shrine. Various temples under the TDB opened on Tuesday along with some churches and mosques in various parts of the state. While the famed Lord Krishna temple at Guruvayoor opened its doors by following the various norms laid down by the government, the Padmanabha Swamy and Attukal temples in the state capital were among those which remained shut. RRT BN WELCOME BN WELCOME

CM appreciates religious leaders decision not to open places of worship due to COVID-19 situation

Kochi, May 14 () State-run telecommunications company,BSNL, has ordered compulsory retirement for its employee andactivist Rehana Fathima, who had attempted to enter the LordAyyappa temple at Sabarimala, for her "intentional" act ofoutraging the religious feelings of devotees through socialmedia posts. Fathima, a Telecom technician with the BSNL, wassuspended from service following her arrest in November 2018for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through herFacebook posts.Condemning the decision, the activist said she wouldchallenge the compulsory retirement order issued to her by thecompany at the appropriate forum.Talking to reporters, she alleged politicalintervention behind the decision.In its order issued to Fathima, the company said ittook the decision after conducting an internal inquiry on herconduct. The company said there were many agitations againstentry of women into the temple during the Sabarimalapilgrimage season in 2018 and during this period, Fathima A S,"being a woman BSNL employee conducted herself in a mannerthat had resulted in a criminal case being filed against herand her subsequent arrest." "An official working in BSNL is always expected toconduct in the best interests of BSNL. Hence, such acts on the part of Fathima A S aresubversive of discipline and amount to misconduct," thecompany said in its order issued to Fathima. "I find that the acts on the part of Fathimawere intentional and not accidental," Deputy General Manager(Tax/ITA and Urban) said in the order. The activist was arrested in Pathanamthitta in2018 on a complaint that some of her Facebook posts hurtreligious sentiments. Considering the protest against her by devoteesof Lord Ayyappa and BJP activists, the BSNL had earliertransferred her to the Palarivattom telephone exchange in thecity where public contact is not required. A controversy had erupted in Kerala afterFathima made an attempt to enter the Sabarimala temple when itwas opened for monthly puja in October, 2018 following theSupreme Court order allowing entry of women in the age groupof 10-50. Fathima, who was also part of the 'Kiss of Love'movement in Kochi in 2014 against alleged moral policing, wasamong the two women who had reached the hilltop on October 19but had to return before reaching the sanctum sanctorum due tomassive protests by Ayyappa devotees. Fathima and Hyderabad-based journalist Kavithawere taken to the hills under heavy police protection. On September 28, 2018 the apex court had liftedthe centuries-old ban on the entry of women of menstrual ageinto the shrine. The decision was challenged by devotees. The Supreme Court has formed a nine-judgeConstitution bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde to hearthe issue of allowing women and girls of all ages to enterSabarimala temple, along with the other contentious issues ofalleged discrimination against Muslim and Parsi women. TGBBNWELCOME TGBBNWELCOME

BSNL compulsorily retires employee-woman activist who tried to enter Ayyappa temple

Kochi, May 14 () State-run telecommunications company,BSNL, has ordered compulsory retirement of its employee andactivist Rehana Fathima, who had attempted to enter the LordAyyappa temple at Sabarimala, for her "intentional" act ofoutraging the religious feelings of devotees through socialmedia posts. Fathima, a Telecom technician with the BSNL, wassuspended from service following her arrest in November 2018for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through herFacebook posts.Condemning the decision, the activist said she wouldchallenge the compulsory retirement order issued to her by thecompany at the appropriate forum.Talking to reporters, she alleged politicalintervention behind the decision.In its order issued to Fathima, the company said ittook the decision after conducting an internal inquiry on herconduct. The company said there were many agitations againstentry of women into the temple during the Sabarimalapilgrimage season in 2018 and during this period, Fathima A S,"being a woman BSNL employee conducted herself in a mannerthat had resulted in a criminal case being filed against herand her subsequent arrest." "An official working in BSNL is always expected toconduct in the best interests of BSNL. Hence, such acts on the part of Fathima A S aresubversive of discipline and amount to misconduct," thecompany said in its order issued to Fathima. "I find that the acts on the part of Fathimawere intentional and not accidental," Deputy General Manager(Tax/ITA and Urban) said in the order. The activist was arrested in Pathanamthitta in2018 on a complaint that some of her Facebook posts hurtreligious sentiments. Considering the protest against her by devoteesof Lord Ayyappa and BJP activists, the BSNL had earliertransferred her to the Palarivattom telephone exchange in thecity where public contact is not required. A controversy had erupted in Kerala afterFathima made an attempt to enter the Sabarimala temple when itwas opened for monthly puja in October, 2018 following theSupreme Court order allowing entry of women in the age groupof 10-50. Fathima, who was also part of the 'Kiss of Love'movement in Kochi in 2014 against alleged moral policing, wasamong the two women who had reached the hilltop on October 19but had to return before reaching the sanctum sanctorum due tomassive protests by Ayyappa devotees. Fathima and Hyderabad-based journalist Kavithawere taken to the hills under heavy police protection. On September 28, 2018 the apex court had liftedthe centuries-old ban on the entry of women of menstrual ageinto the shrine. The decision was challenged by devotees. The Supreme Court has formed a nine-judgeConstitution bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde to hearthe issue of allowing women and girls of all ages to enterSabarimala temple, along with the other contentious issues ofalleged discrimination against Muslim and Parsi women. TGBBNWELCOME TGBBNWELCOME

BSNL orders compulsory retirement of employee-woman activist who tried to enter Ayyappa temple

<ul><li>The 19th session of the Kerala Assembly has been curtailed which was originally slated to end on April 8. </li><li>According to the last official <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/coronavirus-update-two-more-people-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-kerala-11583852482247.html">estimates</a> from the government said almost 3910 people are under observation. </li><li>Kerala Chief Minister <keyword id="6356705" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="pinarayi-vijayan">Pinarayi Vijayan</keyword> on Thursday launched a new app to track the COVID-19 guidelines of the Kerala Health Department. </li></ul>Out of all 81 people infected by <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword> in India, 17 of them are from Kerala making it the epicenter. The state government has been taking measures to contain the virus like shutting schools, cinemas and more. The deadly virus has claimed more than 4000 lives worldwide and has infected around lakh people. Around 4000 people under observation in Kerala According to the last official <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/coronavirus-update-two-more-people-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-kerala-11583852482247.html">estimates</a>, 3910 people are under observation, and quarantined in the state. And, 270 more are in hospitals spread across central-southern districts Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Ernakulam. Cancel marriages and religious gatherings: Kerala CM Vijayan Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged people to cancel weddings, religious gatherings and other events that involve mass gathering. “This is also a season of religious festivities. But we should avoid holding large festivities and marriages. At least, they should be reduced to mere rituals and limit the people in attendance. In Sabarimala (which opens for a few days in March), people should avoid going for the pilgrimage, but the rituals in the temple will be allowed to continue,” Vijayan said after a special cabinet meeting on Tuesday (March 10). Kerala Assembly session curtailed till Friday <div type="image" title="Thiruvananthapuram: Security personnel help Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan a..." msid="74610607" hostid="261"></div>

 Amid the coronavirus scare across the country, the 19th session of the Kerala Assembly has been curtailed. Vijayan said on Thursday that it would be appropriate if the business advisory committee of the Assembly decided to end the session. Before the session started on Friday morning, the committee decided to end the session after dealing with the listed business for the day. The session began on March 2 and was originally slated to end on April 8 after holding 27 sittings. Kerala launches new app to track coronavirus Vijayan also launched a new app to track the COVID-19 guidelines of the Kerala Health Department after two fresh cases of coronavirus cases were reported yesterday (March 12). The app can be downloaded from the Google play store. This facility would be available on feature phones via SMS alerts. Coronavirus hits tourism in Kerala <div type="image" title="kerala tourism." msid="74610576" hostid="261"></div>

 The city’s bountiful tourism industry however has been hit by the virus scare. “In February and March, we get a good number of tourists from the Far East and South Africa. As Kerala reported its first coronavirus case in January, things began to turn bad. Today, when our tourist destinations should register about 80 per cent hotel occupancy, the current figure is zero. With India now suspending visas till the middle of next month, nothing more needs to be said,” said Jose Pradeep, secretary of Kerala Travel Mart. (With inputs from IANS) SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/topic/coronavirus">coronavirus: Latest News, Articles on coronavirus | Business Insider India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/what-is-the-meaning-of-pandemic-epidemic-outbreak/articleshow/74587579.cms">What is the meaning of pandemic and how is it different from an epidemic or an outbreak</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-travel-ban-india-on-lockdown-till-april-15/articleshow/74586131.cms">Coronavirus travel ban: India on lockdown till April 15</a>

Coronavirus: Kerala remains the epicenter with 17 infected; assembly sessions curtailed

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/50352890.cms" />Every year has its own share of controversies and interesting twists and turns play a crucial role in the events. The year 2015 was no exception either. This year too, the country had its incidents, incidences and things that cropped up as aftermath, making some of them hot cakes in terms of news this year. 
 
As we close in on wrapping up the year, here’s what made the headlines in 2015 and shaped the country’s opinion both, socially and politically, sometimes ushering in major change in perception about the country in the world’s eyes. 
 
<keyword id="3119826" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Award-Wapsi">Award Wapsi</keyword> This must have been the most significant event of the year and happened right before the <keyword id="175111" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bihar-elections">Bihar elections</keyword>. Award wapsi, a movement of sorts, was started a little while after murder of rationalist thinker and writer M M Kalburgi in Karnataka. Writers Nayantara Sehgal and Uday Prakash were among those who set the tone. This year, the biggest literary event was not a book release or something, but more like a writer standing up for his right to speak what he sees as truth. The writers were chided for siding with Congress party since most of them received awards during the tenure of Congress government. 
 
National Herald case 
Apart from Award Wapsi, this was another headline grabber which almost made demi gods out of Congress first line leaders. AICC Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi made an appearance in court over murky National Herald assets usurping case, which cost the country quite dearly since Congress stalled the discussions over some crucial issues such as GST in parliament, over ‘vendetta’ politics. 
 
Modi Pakistan-Afghan visit 
Towards the end of the year, the Prime Minister who has been jocularly targeted for his trips aboard sprang up a surprise and visited his counterpart in Pakistan absolutely out of turn, thus catching everyone by surprise. His move was both appreciated and criticized in equal measures by those who love him, and by those who simply didn’t like this approach. But, it looks like the White House seems to have welcomed this new found bonhomie between neighbours who have been sworn enemies over several issues. 
 
Shah Rukh, Aamir Khan’s (controversial) intolerance remarks 
This year when people spoke of social and cultural differences, they were targeted on social media and how! Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan who spoke against the rising incidents of ‘intolerance’ and the subsequent fear that has been the result of this, they were targeted badly for everything they said and did. Many from Bollywood including Raveena Tandon, Madhur Bhandarkar and Anupam Kher condemned these remarks made by the two Khans. The issue still simmers on. 
 
No women in temples, so what! 
It started with Ayyappan temple in Sabarimala, Kerala where a trustee said they would put scanners soon to keep menstruating women from visiting temples and angering the gods. Soon after, BJP leader Pankaja Munde in Mumbai seemed to have agreed with this line of thought. She asked, in all calm tone, yes women have not been allowed to visit temples in particular days. So what?! This irked feminists and people across the social media, who ensured their spoke their minds against this medieval stance against menstruating women. 
 
Meat ban during Paryushan Parva 
The BJP government in Maharashtra banned meat during the Jain fasting period called Paryushan Parva. This angered people from across social strata, who were sure that the BJP was driving a wedge between communities that ate meat and those that didn’t consume meat. This was called a social experiment of the worst kind, which would have repercussions on people’s food habits where forced opinions would mean democracy had ceased to exist even in people food habits. 
 
Sadhvi Prachi 
In keeping with the continued tradition of letting lose a volley of abuses and irrational statements, asking people to go to Pakistan if they were opposed to the ideologies of BJP government which predominantly upheld Hindu values and the way of life, that an alternate faith was next to impossible. Sadhvi Prachi being just a representative of all those medieval thoughts and barbaric mindset, kept the newspapers busy with her idiosyncrasies while BJP leadership failed to rein her in. 
 
Yakub Memon 
Hanging of 1997 Mumbai blast main accused Yakub Memon, who was held guilty by courts in 2007 the country witnessed some tense moments and swift working by the courts even on the previous night he was to be hanged on July 30. 
 
Though his death didn’t create a law and order situation, international media lost no opportunity to ensure this incident was bracketed under ‘intolerance’ towards Muslim brethren. 
 
Bihar elections 
This was the single most significant incident that probably indicated the image of BJP was on a journey downhill. Having doled out goodies in form of packages, and most engaging and intense campaigning by the who’s who of BJP including Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi, the MahagatBandhan with Nitish Kumar and Lalu at the helm held people’s hopes. That is where exactly their votes went too. But in the run up to event, there was a lot of bad blood that spilled forth. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

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