Trupti Desai, who helmed the Right to Pray movement in Maharashtra, welcomed the Supreme Court verdict allowing the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala. Speaking to TNM, Trupti stated that she will be heading to Sabarimala soon to pay respects to Ayyappa and will announce the date of her journey shortly.
"Yes, we will be going to Sabarimala. We'll announce the date soon. Nothing confirmed yet,” she said.
“I welcome the Supreme Court verdict with all my heart. It is a big victory for women and the Constitution. The Supreme Court verdict has effectively ended the discrimination of women,” Trupti says.
A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Friday, with a 4:1 majority, lifted the centuries-old ban on the entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 into the temple. The SC ruled that devotion cannot be subjected to gender discrimination.
Social activist Rahul Easwar, who belongs to the family of the priest at Sabarimala temple, stated that he will file a review petition against the verdict. Speaking at a press conference, Rahul Easwar stated that SC’s verdict will ‘destabilise the soul of Lord Ayyappa.’
“Rahul Easwar is a young man. He should not make such ridiculous statements,” says Trupti, laughing. “If the deity does not differentiate between man and woman and if gods are so open with everyone, what is your problem?” she asks.
When Trupti Desai first fought for entry into the Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district, she proclaimed that she will enter Sabarimala temple next. After her announcement, Rahul Easwar had issued an open challenge, claiming that 500 women will form a human chain to stop her.
“We’ll see,” Trupti says when reminded of Rahul’s challenge. “I have received many threats on my Facebook profile but I don’t pay heed to such threats. We will go and nobody can stop us. If anything happens to me, then it is on the Kerala government and Maharashtra government.”