'Sabarimala officers disrespecting womanhood'

Bangalore, July 18: The All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) today lambasted the authorities of the famous Sabarimala hill shrine in Kerala for not allowing women in the age group of 10-55 to enter the temple.

Addressing newspersons here, AIPJD firebrand leader A K Subbaiah described the attitude of the authorities as ''most atrocious'' and ''disrespect shown to womanhood.'' Coming down heavily on the temple authorities for raking up controversy over the Kannada film actor Jayamala's recent statement that she had entered the sanctum sanctorum of the temple 17 years ago, he demanded that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala bring in a suitable legislation to end the discrimination against women at the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.

He said ''By tendering an apology for her act, Jayamala has not only succumbed to the hegemony of the temple authorities, but also brought in insult to womanhood.''

UNI