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Sabarimala row: After RSS activist KP Sasikala's arrest, devotees call for state-wide hartal
KP Sasikala was detained by the police, who held that the Hindu Aikya Vedi state president could instigate women, who have traditionally been denied access to the Sabarimala shrine, to try for an entry
Sabarimala: A state-wide hartal was called in Kerala on Saturday by the Sabarimala Karma Samiti after Hindu Aikya Vedi state president KP Sasikala was detained.
Sasikala is a prominent RSS activist and is above 50 years of age -- an age that qualifies her for entry to the Sabarimala shrine.
According to reports, Sasikala was detained under section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (preventive detention). She had tried to enter the Sabarimala shrine to get darshan on Friday, but the police detained her, holding that she might instigate more people.
Pointers:
1. State-wide dawn-to-dusk hartal called in Kerala on Saturday
2. Hindu Aikya Vedi state president KP Sasikala was detained after police held that she could instigate more people
3. According to the Sabarimala tradition, no women in their menstruating age can be allowed to enter the shrine