Menstruating women are impure: Kerala Congress chief's words of wisdom

Many protested his comments, deeming them anti-women, the Kerala Congress chief remained unfazed.

The interim Chief of Congress party in Kerala, M M Hassan, received flak after he said that mensurating women are 'impure' and should stay away from temples. Hassan was addressing a seminar on Media and politics on Monday when he made the controversial statement. "Menstruation is impure and women should not enter temples during that period. Menstruation period marks days of impurity," M M Hassan said in response to a question on women's entry into Sabarimala shrine.

Hassan was speaking to journalism students when he made the remarks. Many protested his comments, deeming them anti-women. Students even retorted by asking if he thought of blood and organs as impure as well, while another questioned why the blood in his veins is not impure since it came out of mensuration. The Kerala Congress chief, unfazed, stood his ground and claimed that his comments stemmed from cultural observation and were not his own opinions.

After his comments kicked up a row, Hassan claimed that his statements were distorted and mensuration days as an impure period was not his personal opinion. "I was referring to the prevailing situation at the Sabarimala temple where women of menstruating age are denied entry. I was just referring to the prevailing customs of the society. I am not an authority to make comments on such things. My reaction was distorted,'' he claimed.

He added that Muslim and Hindu women during their menstruation period, on their own, used to keep away from places of worship. "This is the social situation that exists in the society. I only explained this when a participant asked a question in this regard at the seminar," he said. He justified his statement by claiming that political parties cannot change the customs and traditions of religions.

OneIndia News