Pankaja Munde defends 'ban' on women at Maharashtra temple


Mumbai, Dec 4 (Midday News): Defending the practice of not allowing women to perform 'puja' at Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra Rural Development minister Pankaja Munde today opined that traditional rituals cannot be "linked with insult" of female fraternity.

Munde's statement, which came in the wake of a woman offering 'puja' at the temple by breaching security, drew sharp reaction from Opposition NCP, which criticised her.

"These are traditions and cannot be linked with insult of woman fraternity," Munde said, defending the age-old `ban' after the woman devotee's action last week created a furore.

"The outrage over the woman entering the Shani temple is a non-issue," the BJP leader said.

Chitra Wagh, women's wing President of the State NCP, criticised Munde's statement.

"In a progressive state like Maharashtra, instead of appreciating the move to break the traditions that are against women, the BJP Minister, by making such a statement, has taken State back to an era where women were not treated at par with men," Wagh maintained.

The temple, which attracts thousands of pilgrims daily, is devoted to Lord Shani and women are traditionally barred from offering prayers at the shrine, located about 250km from Mumbai.

  

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Comment on this article

  • readerwriter007, pune

    Fri, Dec 04 2015

    hello... not sure why these leaders get in to such stupid incidents / issues. We have rnough topics to be discussed and acted upon. There is a very old history and story behind, because of which women are not allowed inside a Shani temple. Please don't connect it with women fraternity and all. If you respect god and temple, please respect the beliefs also which are respected for centuries.
    Above that, don't create scene that we ourselves are fighting in the name of god and rituals. please...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Fri, Dec 04 2015

    What about mixing clay with CHIKKI ...

    DisAgree [6] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse


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