Probe ordered into veracity of photo of young women at Sabarimala
- Sabarimala Temple bars the entry of women between the ages of 10 to 50
- Police officers in charge of screening devotees clarified that the women were above 50 years
- Government ordered probe into the incident following a complaint that the women misused VIP Darshan facility
Sabarimala Temple has once again raked up a controversy over letting women in Sanctum Sanctorum. The Devaswom Board has ordered a probe after a picture of women at the sanctum sanctorum started circulating on social media.Â
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A picture of churidar clad women appeared on the Twitter wall of T G Mohandas, BJP's intelligence cell convener.
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Photo at sanctum sanctorum of Sabarimala reportedly on 11.04.2017. Hope these girls are above 50!
— mohan das (@mohandastg) April 12, 2017
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It soon spread like wildfire on social media and many claimed that the woman didn't look like they were 50 years.Â
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The police officials, who were in charge of screening the devotees came out with a clarification that the women, though looked young, were above 50-years and that they had produced valid proofs for age. However, there were reports that the women secured 'VIP darshan' facility with the help of a cashew businessman in Kollam, who is a known devotee of Sabarimala Temple.Â
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Soon after the issue gained publicity, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran ordered a probe by Travancore Devaswom Board's (TDB) vigilance wing as women between 10 to 50 years is banned from entering the temple. The Minister explained that he ordered a probe following a complaint that women managed to get into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple by misusing the VIP Darshan facility being enjoyed by a businessman in Kollam.Â
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"We would strictly check whether somebody is enjoying undue benefits in the name of VIP Darshan," the Minister said.Â
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TDB sources revealed that the incident took place on April 10 or 11.Â
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With the government launched an investigation, many people have come up with claim that the pictures were doctored to rake up controversy.Â
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Sabarimala Response - Sri @mohandastg ji has raised an issue of "Ladies in Sabarimala". Photos are not Fake. But they are above age 50 (1/2)
— Rahul Easwar (@RahulEaswar) April 16, 2017
In a bid to oppose ban on women from entering the temple, last year, women had launched a campaign called #Readytowait, saying that they are ready to wait until they hit menopause to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.Â
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