BSNL forces employee Rehana Fathima who tried to enter Sabarimala to accept voluntary retirement

Fathima, along with a woman journalist, had tried to enter the Sabarimala temple in October 2018; however, she had to return due to massive protests. Later, her house was allegedly vandalised by unidentified men.
 

Rehana Fathima, the woman technician employed with BSNL was forced to take up voluntary retirement.

She said that BSNL is victimising her for having come out in the open and voicing her opinion regarding the Sabarimala women entry issue.
 

Rehana had posted a photo donning the traditional black dress used by Sabarimala devotees and declared that she will attempt to enter the hilltop shrine at the earliest.
 

Her announcement had then courted strong criticism from all corners alleging that Rehana was attempting to get media attention.
 

She alleged that BSNL, in their letter forcing her to accept retirement, had cited her activities related to Sabarimala issue as the reason for the action.

BSNL had accused her of defaming the company and tarnishing the company's image in the society. She was also alleged to have hurt religious sentiments in this regard.

The action from the disciplinary committee of BSNL comes weeks after Rehana was suspended impending inquiry when she had made the comments and posted her photograph on social media.

She claimed that her performance in the company has been unblemished and said that she will challenge BSNL's action in the court.
 

She also made grave allegations against BSNL to have underground deals with Jio.
 

Rehana has had many bold photoshoots and had even once courted controversy by posting topless photos of herself with watermelons on Facebook after a Kozhikode-based professor compared women’s breasts to watermelons. Her action was criticised by many across the state and was taken down by Facebook.