A dawn-to-dusk hartal has been announced in Kerala by the Shiv Sena on October 1 to protest against Friday's Supreme Court ruling that no women should be barred from entering Sabarimala.
The proposed hartal would be observed from 6am to 6pm. The Shiv Sena announced it would associate with other outfits to file a review petition against the Supreme Court ruling on women entering Sabarimala. At a press conference on Saturday, Shiv Sena leaders alleged the RSS had not opposed the Supreme Court's verdict on Sabarimala as it had its own “agenda”.
The Supreme Court on Friday paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. A five-member constitution bench of the Supreme Court said that banning the entry of women aged between 10 years and 50 years into Sabarimala was gender discrimination and the practice violated the rights of Hindu women.
Various fringe Hindu outfits in Kerala had called for a statewide hartal on July 30 to protest the state government's decision to support the entry of all women to Sabarimala. The July 30 protest over Sabarimala had little impact on life in most parts of Kerala.