Delhi Police have arrested a 45-year-old burglar and a woman for allegedly stealing an antique Ashtadhatu idol of Lord Shani and other brass items from a 104-year-old temple in Delhi's Chandni Chowk.
Fadnavis, who on Tuesday favoured a dialogue on the issue in the wake of a tense showdown, did not make any comment on the set of demands before leaving the venue.
Ahmednagar police stopped the activists of 'Ranaragini Bhoomata Brigade' protesting against the alleged gender bias by the temple authorities, led by Trupti Desai, at Supa, about 70 km from the temple premises, foiling their bid to offer worship at the sacred platform.
A smooth access to the hitherto prohibited area of the temple brought cheer to women devotees as they poured oil on the ancient black stone idol and offered flowers to the deity on Saturday.
Around 25 activists proceeded for the temple on Saturday morning in 2-3 small vehicles.
Desai, along with three of her colleagues took darshan of the 'shivlinga' in the 'garbha gruha' around 6 am and left after nearly 15 minutes.
A day after they were allegedly manhandled while trying to enter into the sanctum sanctorum of the famous Trimbakeshwar temple in "dress code", the four women activists today took 'darshan' of the deity amid police protection.
Despite the trust's orders that men as well as women will not be allowed to enter the Shani Shingnapur temple here, around 100 men were on Friday seen storming into the inner sanctum of the holy place.
Several activists belonging to Muslim women groups held placards demanding entry for females into the sanctum sanctorum of the historic dargah, which receives hundreds of devotees everyday.
Honour court order or face FIR: activist Trupti Desai to Maharashtra CM over Bombay high court's order facilitating entry of females to places of worship.
Though some Hindutva groups have said they will prevent the women's group from entering the temple.
Trupti Desai's fight earned women the right to enter the inner sanctums of the Shani Shingnapur Temple, the Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple and the Haji Ali Dargah. Her next target is Sabarimala in Kerala. Aditi Phadnis reports.
'If we do not enter the temple, then history won't be made and all wrong rituals will get continue to be followed.' 'If they resort to violence against women and abuse them, how can they be Ayyappa Swamy's bhakts?'
As per tradition, only men were allowed entry daily between 6-7 am into the area where the main 'linga' is placed, that too by putting on a specific gear called the sovala (silk clothing).
'We will talk to Muslim, Christian organisations and form a broad alliance so that every temple, church and mosque will have freedom to manage their affairs and not to be intervened upon.'
'We will soon come back to Kerala to visit Sabarimala but we will not declare it in advance and come'
In a boost to gender equality campaign, the Bombay high court on Wednesday observed that if men are allowed in a place of worship then women should also be permitted as no law prevents them from doing so.
Under the Maharashtra Hindu Place of Worship (Entry Authorisation) Act, if any temple or person prohibits any person from entering a temple then he or she faces a six-month imprisonment.
CM Pinnarayi Vijayan said 'deliberate' efforts were being made to destroy the state's unity and secular fabric.
'Comparing a men-only pilgrimage with past blots like sati or untouchability is propelled by politics, mischief and malevolence,' argues Sudhir Bisht.
Temple priest performed a 'purification' ritual for an hour before the doors were opened again.
The Lord Ayyappa shrine will re-open for the two-month-long Madala-Makkarvilakku puja on Saturday.
