Maha: Minister Pankaja Munde offers prayers at another Shani temple

Mumbai, Apr 2: Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde today offered prayers at a Shani temple in Ahmednagar district on a day when women activists were prevented by locals from venturing on to the sacred platform of the famous Shani Shingnapur temple.

Rural Development Minister Munde went up on the 'chauthara' (platform) of the temple at Pathardi and offered oil to the idol. The daughter of the late BJP leader Gopinath Munde later tweeted about her visit to the temple. Thus far, women did not offer oil at the temple, said a local in Pathardi.

The development comes a day after Bombay High Court directed the state government to take pro-active steps for ensuring compliance with the law for the prevention of discrimination against women vis-a-vis entry to places of worship.

Earlier today at Shingnapur, which is also in the same district, activists led by Trupti Desai of the Bhumata Ranragini Brigade tried to enter the famous Shani temple and go up to the platform in the core area but were prevented from doing so by villagers.

PTI