A decision by a government school in Kerala to introduce trousers and shirt for both girls and boys has led to protests and demonstrations, especially from Muslim religious and cultural organizations. These organizations have alleged that the move amounts to imposing patriarchy and liberal values on women, and accused the school authorities of denying the […]
The Kerala Unit of Indian Union Muslim League — an ally of the Congress Party — has suspended a district-level functionary for participating in a major, state-wide anti-CAA protest on Sunday. KM Basheer, a vice president for the party’s Beypore assembly unit, has been suspended from his position after he participated in Sunday’s ‘Human Chain’ […]
Home Minister Amit Shah today said that he was opposed to the idea of the judiciary donning the mantle of ecclesiastical courts and telling people how to worship their gods and interfering in their religious practices. He was answering a question about his “dual stand” on the issues of Sabarimala temple and Ram Janmabhoomi temple, […]
The Sabarimala temple case has been referred to a larger, seven-judge bench, giving relief to pro-tradition activists. The case has been referred to a seven-judge bench on the basis of a 3:2 ruling by the judges. The case refers to a petition filed by some Delhi-based lawyers complaining that women devotees of Ayyappa are not […]
Puliparambil Gopinath, a Hindutva activist who shot to fame last year after roughing up a team of Christian evangelists in Kodungallur in Kerala, has publicly expressed his regret at his past political choices and blamed Hindutva organizations for failing to support their workers in their hour of need. Gopinath, also known as Gopinath Kodungallur in […]
The ‘Law Reforms Commission’ set up by the Kerala government two years ago has come up with a draft anti-superstition bill that will target those superstitions that cause ‘bodily harm’ and are not part of an established religion. The draft was prepared on the request of the Kerala government. The draft law will target ‘freelance’ […]
While the Left Front was expected to lose Hindu votes due to the Sabarimala issue, a closer look at voting numbers from Kerala reveals that Sabarimala hit both LDF and UDF, but the UDF was able to sail through with increased support from minorities. Even as Hindu voters shifted their votes to the BJP to […]
Bhumata Brigade head and women’s rights activist Trupti Desai has been blocked by protesters at the Cochin International Airport by protesters. The activist reached Cochin at around 4:40 AM, and quickly drew protesters. The number of protesters outside the airport has been increasing as news about Desai’s entry spread and currently number in the hundreds. […]
The Kerala unit of the Congress Party today called on the BJP to issue an ordinance to give denominational status to Ayyappa devotees and reiterated its stand that it was against the entry of young women into the temple. Ramesh Chennithala, the leader of the Congress Party in the state legislative assembly, took aim at […]
Riot-like conditions prevailed in Nilakkal and surrounding areas as thousands of Ayyappa devotees and Kerala Police engaged in pitched battle involving stone throwing and lathi charges. The situation worsened after the police moved early morning to dismantle the local pandals put up by devotees, who had used the camp to conduct vehicle checking yesterday. Women […]
Libi CS, a self-proclaimed atheist, was taken away by police today on her way to the holy site of Sabarimala. The woman, a native of Cherthala in Kerala, had announced on Facebook yesterday that she, along with three of her friends, will visit Sabarimala today. “When Rahul Easwar (leader of the agitation) is camping at […]
Rahul Easwar, one of the most prominent spokespersons of the Hindu right wing in Kerala, has blamed a section within the Hindu right wing for the controversies surrounding South Indian traditions likes Jallikettu and Sabarimala. Easwar, who can be found on TV on most days expounding the Hindu right wing perspective on Kerala-related issues, said […]
