Shiv Sena calls off Kerala strike against Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala temple

Shiv Sena's Kerala Unit Sunday called off its dawn-to-dusk hartal, which was scheduled on October 1 to protest against the Supreme Court's verdict allowing women of all age groups to enter Hindu pilgrim shrine Sabarimala temple. The 12-hour-long state-wide strike has been withdrawn in view of the forecast of heavy rain alert in a few districts across Kerala.

"The hartal is being withdrawn taking into account the forecast of heavy rain and issuance of yellow alert in a few districts," a press release from the Siva Sena state committee read.

The Supreme Court on Friday lifted restrictions on the entry of women of a particular age group in the Sabarimala temple. The court changed the Kerala shrine’s decade-old tradition of barring girls and women of menstruating age 10-50 years.

Read | Sabarimala verdict: Shiv Sena calls for 12-hour bandh in Kerala on October 1

However, the revised date for the hartal will be announced anytime soon. Shiv Sena will also ask other Hindu outfits to file a review period against the SC verdict, according to local news channel Manorama News.

While the BJP government and people from across different sectors welcomed the Sabarimala verdict, terming it a victory for women’s rights, the ruling has stirred controversy among various sections of the society.

Read | Sabarimala Verdict: SC decision makes Hinduism even more inclusive, says Maneka