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. 

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

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

<p>She said that BSNL is victimising her for having come out in the open and voicing her opinion regarding the Sabarimala women entry issue.<br />&nbsp;</p>

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

<p>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.<br />&nbsp;</p>

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.

<p>Her announcement had then courted strong criticism from all corners alleging that Rehana was attempting to get media attention.<br />&nbsp;</p>

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

<p>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.</p>

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.

<p>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.</p>

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.

<p>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.</p>

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.

<p>She claimed that her performance in the company has been unblemished and said that she will challenge BSNL's action in the court.<br />&nbsp;</p>

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

<p>She also made grave allegations against BSNL to have underground deals with Jio.<br />&nbsp;</p>

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

<p>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.&nbsp;</p>

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.