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The controversy over the breaking of the <keyword id="6384180" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sabarimala">Sabarimala</keyword> <keyword id="6355287" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Temple">temple</keyword>'s culture and tradition continues to rage and is even now the most discussed election issue in Kerala as seen from the statements of various top political leaders, who came to cast their votes on Tuesday. The <keyword id="6930180" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sabarimala-temple-issue">Sabarimala temple issue</keyword> was raised by Sukumaran Nair, general secretary of the powerful Hindu Nair community's social and cultural organisation -- <keyword id="378621" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nair-Service-Society">Nair Service Society</keyword>. Soon after casting his vote at Changnacherry in Kottayam district, Nair said what he could sense is that the people in the state want a change in governance and want an outfit which will uphold social justice and secular credentials. "The Sabarimala temple issue continues to rage as believers are angry," said Nair. It was in 2018 that the apex court ruled that the temple should be open to all women irrespective of the age group as until then the temple tradition was that no women in the age group 10 to 50 be allowed entry. Following the verdict, the Vijayan-led government floated a renaissance movement, much to the anguish of the believers of Lord Ayyappa, the deity at the Sabarimala temple, and even went to the extent of providing security to two activist women to pray at the temple by providing <keyword id="6369752" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Police-Security">police security</keyword>. The temple town then became a battle ground after believers in large members resisted attempts by the police to take women in the hitherto banned age group. This temple issue came as a setback for Vijayan in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when he won only one of the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala. On Tuesday, after casting his vote at Kannur, Vijayan when asked about Nair's Sabarimala temple issue said, "it's not just Ayyappan alone, all God's are supporting the Left," said Vijayan, who was accompanied by his wife Kamala Vijayan. And then came statements from the Congress leaders who condemned this sudden U-turn by Vijayan. Reacting to Vijayan's sudden love for Lord Ayyappan, Chennithala laughed and said it was strange to hear an atheist's sudden love for Ayyappan. "Vijayan will get the wrath of Ayyappan as he destroyed the sanctity of the famed Sabarimala temple," said Chennithala. Two time former Congress Chief Minister <keyword id="137100" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Oommen-Chandy">Oommen Chandy</keyword> said Vijayan's statement will be taken with a pinch of salt by the people as it has no sum or substance. "The first thing he did was to file a fresh affidavit and it was done after withdrawing our affidavit, and it was clear that he was against the existing traditions of the temple. When the apex court verdict came, he said he will abide by the verdict. Soon he led a renaissance movement and when no women came to visit the temple, police forcefully took two women to the temple and the culture and traditions were broken. And on election day Vijayan has made a huge U-turn and this would be dismissed by every devotee as nothing but a bluff," said Chandy and added the Congress-led <keyword id="6361745" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="udf">UDF</keyword> will win a resounding victory. Union Minister of State for External Affairs V.Muraleedharan laughed at the statement of Vijayan and said it's high time that the CPI-M be wound up as their ideology has been thrown out of the window. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/restaurants-in-maharashtra-are-staring-at-a-slow-death-as-another-lockdown-threatens-to-kill-their-business/articleshow/81924727.cms">Maharashtra restaurant owners fear the current lockdown could be the final nail in the coffin for their business</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/earth-isnt-the-only-planet-with-rain-and-it-could-be-the-key-to-finding-a-habitable-planet-outside-the-solar-system/articleshow/81926108.cms">Raindrops on other planets could be key in search for life beyond the solar system</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tcs-hcl-tech-infosys-q4-earnings-preview-and-guidance/articleshow/81908765.cms">Record breaking quarter for Indian IT services is a given ⁠— all eyes are now on guidance</a>

Sabarimala temple continues to be an election issue in Kerala

<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- 
	
	
	<div type="Slideshow" msid="67414637" hostid="261" title="In photos: The great ‘Women’s Wall’ that erupted an Indian state to fight for gender equality" firstImageMsid="67414638" slideCount="8"></div>

‘Women’s Wall’ thrice the length of Singapore’s coastline is standing up against patriarchy in India

<ul><li>The Supreme Court’s verdict to allow women of all ages to enter the <keyword id="453325" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sabarimala-temple">Sabarimala Temple</keyword> came into effect today.</li><li>During the past week, protestors and the local tribal community have flocked to the shrine in order to protest the verdict and prevent women from entering. </li><li>While the law was passed to propagate equality, the locals cite that it’s encroaching their <keyword id="63214" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="religious-freedom">religious freedom</keyword>.</li></ul>The Sabarimala temple finally opened its doors to women today but they’re are being <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/two-women-devotees-reach-sabarimala-temple-sent-back-by-protesters-1933319" data-type="tilCustomLink" style="">turned around</a> before they can even reach the gates. The verdict passed by the Supreme Court last month allowed women of all ages to worship Lord Ayyappa's shrine citing Article 14, that everyone should be equal before the law. But the matter at hand seems to be pivoting from equality between genders to religious freedoms and tribal rights. On the ground, the local tribal community along with their supporters have been gathering to protest. So far, women have been turned out at the base of the hill where the temple is located and stones have been pelted at cars approaching with women on board. Even the women police that’s been deployed in the area are facing backlash for doing their duty. What seems to be the problem? The Sabarimala temple is the pivotal place of worship for the tribal community living in the Attathodu area where the shrine is located. According to the chief of the tribal community in the region, VK Narayanan, the issue is that the restrictions that have been placed on women of a certain age as a part of their customs. He added that considering menstruating women ‘impure’ is a Dravidian custom. Even before Wednesday, many organisations were citing disruption and ‘mass suicides’ as a likely outcome if women of menstrual age are allowed to enter the shrine. This isn’t the first time that India has had to face a crisis of conscience where the choice is between bringing about equality or upholding tradition. Triple Talaq, up until recently, was legal in India. Having been cited as ‘unconstitutional’ it was abolished in 2017 highlighting that such a tradition was not integral to religious practice. (Image source: IANS)

Protestors flock as this Indian temple finally opens its gate to women

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

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>Intense violence has tainted Kerala' politics in recent years.</li><li>Simmering tensions between the UDF, LDF, and the BJP may affect voter turnout.</li><li>If people decide to avoid voting to stay safe, it may skew the results.</li></ul>The southern state of Kerala, famous for its scenic backwaters and high literacy rate, has seen one of the most violent election campaigns in the country. If people decide to sit at home to avoid getting caught in any sort of violence, it may skew the results in favour of one party or the other. <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019/kerala/news/violent-end-to-vibrant-poll-campaign/articleshow/68987461.cms">More than 30 people</a>, including a policeman, were injured at Thiruvalla where the activists of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) clashed on the last day of the campaign (April 21). That was only one of the many violent clashes that have caught headlines in the state that boasts of 94% literacy, according to the 2011 census. Sitaram Yechury, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), better known by its acronym CPI(M), said that the party had 13 workers in the last one year. However, police <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/kerala-rss-workers-murder-data-reveals-record-of-political-killings-1733728">records verified by NDTV</a> showed that 14 people from the RSS, BJP, and the left parties have been murdered for political reasons since February 2018. The count of similar deaths between 2000 and 2017 escalates to over 170, according to the same report. The increasingly restive political air in Kerala only shows how tight the fight is going to be. 26 million voters are enlisted for voting on April 23, the <keyword id="2211307" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Third-phase-of-polling">third phase of polling</keyword> in the ongoing elections for the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. The voter turnout in the state was a record 73.6% in 2014, <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/election-2014-kerala-records-73-6-per-cent-voter-turnout-highest-since-1991-556911" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">the highest since 1991</a>. The United Democratic Front led by the Indian National Congress bagged 12 seats while the remaining eight went to the LDF led by the communist party-led coalition. However, the BJP is expected to be a strong contender this time around, more than it has been ever before. The threat from the BJP is seen as the strongest in some regions that have strong Hindu majority, where people are peeved by a 2018 Supreme Court verdict that allowed <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/supreme-court-allows-women-to-enter-sabarimala-temple/articleshow/65989807.cms">women into the Sabarimala Temple</a>. Tradition did not allow women of menstruating age into the temple until the court verdict. The <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019/kerala/news/will-do-everything-to-protect-sabarimala-shah/articleshow/68971697.cms">BJP and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh</a> (RSS), milked the issue and kept the anger alive to turn it against the incumbent Parliamentarians. Hindus make up for only 54% of the state’s population, according to the 2011 Census, compared to 80% nationally. 26% of Kerala’s population are Muslims and 18% are Christians. However, the RSS has had a strong support base in Kerala for years but the <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/rss-strengthening-base-in-kerala-number-of-shakhas-rising/articleshow/57147070.cms">hindu natioanlist organisation</a> is now stronger in the state than ever before. The odds of BJP getting more votes than before are higher but <a href="https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/article/opinion-poll-for-lok-sabha-election-2019-live-times-now-vmr-survey-for-bjp-congress-narendra-modi-rahul-gandhi/384850">most opinion polls</a> have still pegged it as a two-way fight between the UDF and the LDF in the state. A big factor working in favour of the LDF is the <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/kerala-will-set-an-example-in-rebuilding-rehabilitation-pinarayi-vijayan/articleshow/65481744.cms">elevated reputation of state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan</a>. He won accolades for effectively managing a devastating flood in the state in 2018. The state also has a long history of leftists dominating state politics. Kerala’s first chief minister in 1957, EMS Namboodiripad, was one of the world’s first communist leaders to head an elected government. On the other hand, UDF led by Congress is trying to squeeze the BJP out by supporting the protests against the entry of women into the Sabarimala Temple. “Well, you cannot afford to write off the votes of the majority in times of political interest,” <a href="https://qz.com/india/1601119/election-2019-congresss-tharoor-battles-modis-bjp-in-kerala/">Congress leader Shashi Tharoor</a> fighting to defend the state capital Thriuvananthapuram told Quartz. The margin for error has shrunk significantly for Tharoor who swept the seat with 100,000 more votes than the second candidate in 2009. By 2014, it had shrunk to 14,000 and this time it is expected to be even tighter. Given that tensions are running high, voter turnout may become a deciding factor. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-election-2019-3rd-phase-polling-live-updates/liveblog/68999100.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">LIVE BLOG: Voting in 117 constituencies underway</a>

Voter turnout may be tested in India’s most literate state that has seen one of the most violent election campaigns

<ul><li>Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> announced measures that will benefit both airline operators like IndiGo and SpiceJet, as well as developers like GMR, GVK, and Adani Group.</li><li>India opened up more of its airspace for airlines to ply, decided to put up more airport development projects for bidding. </li><li>Another major investment was Sitharaman’s bid to make India an MRO hub – Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul.</li></ul>India opened up more of its airspace for airlines to ply, decided to put up more airport development projects for bidding, and ease taxation as well as restrictions on maintenance and repair to bring down costs for aviation firms. These reforms announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will benefit both airline operators like IndiGo and SpiceJet, as well as developers like GMR, GVK, and Adani Group. <div type="image" title="indigo." msid="75775924" hostid="261"></div> <div type="image" title="spicejet." msid="75775928" hostid="261"></div> The government estimates airlines will save about ₹1,000 crore a year by flying shorter routes. “60% of the Indian airspace is freely available, because it is fairly restricted for civil and defence purposes, so we have been taking longer routes. This has to be rationalised for optimum utilization of time and fuel. Customers can get to their destinations quicker and cheaper,” Sitharaman said. More airport projects up for grabs The second step taken was that six more airports will be put up for auction by the Airports Authority of India and will be built on public private spaces. “Additional investments will be made by private players in 12 airports where investments are already present. The financial implications will be on the AAI. The first and second round of investments to get ₹13,000 crore,” said Sitharaman. India currently has several airport projects under construction – the Jewar international airport in Greater Noida, the Mopa Airport in Goa, Navi Mumbai international airport in Maharashtra, Sabarimala airport in Kerala among others. In April 2020, GMR got the go-ahead for the Bhogapuram airport in Andhra Pradesh. In February 2019, the Adani Group won a tender to operate all six government-owned Indian airports located in Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), Lucknow, and Guwahati. Making India an airline maintenance hub Another major investment was Sitharaman’s bid to make India an MRO hub – Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul. “Most Indian aircrafts go abroad for their repair works and spend there. But India has all the capacity – manpower and soft skills to set up an MRO hub here. India can be the centre for many of the flights for South East Asia as well as westwards,” she said. This will be a major step that we want to make sure India benefits from, she added. Not just the civil sector but defence aircrafts will also benefit from it. Through this, maintenance will also be cheaper for the aviation sector. The issue the MRO industry used to face because of the aircraft used to fly to other countries for repair. "In India we have a promising civil aviation sector, so we want the MRO sector to be located in India and much of the repair work should be done here. The problem they used to face was competitiveness was in GST. GST rate used to be 18%, so the meeting held in March the rate has been brought down to 5% with full input tax credit and that is something that will make the MRO industry very competitive," said the government. The coronavirus pandemic has left the Indian airlines sector stranded on the runway. All domestic and international flights have been suspended ever since the lockdown. “It will take 2-3 years for air travel to return to 2019 levels and a few more years to return to long-term growth trends according to Boeing,” said a Centrum Broking report last week. The <keyword id="34987" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="aviation-industry">aviation industry</keyword> is staring at losses to the tune of ₹25,000 crore, according to a CRISIL report. “These are preliminary estimates, and aggregate losses could increase if the lockdown is extended beyond the first quarter. As and when operations resume, overall operational capacity will hover at 50-60% for the rest of the fiscal. Consequently, mergers and acquisitions of airlines, and relook at expansion plans of private and upcoming greenfield airports would be possibilities," <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/covid-19-impact-indian-aviation-may-incur-rs-25-000-crore-losses-says-crisil-11588838896045.html">said Jagannarayan Padmanabhan</a>, director and practice leader, transport &amp; logistics, Crisil Infrastructure Advisory. <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/will-the-aviation-industry-recover-from-the-pandemic/article31359708.ece">Globally</a>, the industry’s revenues could be cut by $252 billion in 2020.

Indigo and Spicejet get shorter routes, cheaper fuel bills while Adani, GMR, and GVK get more airport projects to bid for

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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