Women activists today termed as "outrageous and appalling" Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati's remarks on lifting of ban on entry of women in the famous Shani temple in Maharashtra and demanded his apology, failing which they have threatened to stage protests.
The religious leader had said "the entry of women into the famous Shingnapur shrine which is devoted to Lord Shani will drive more rapes".
"This is a really ridiculous and appalling statement coming from a religious head of an institution that is followed by so many Hindus. Rape is criminalised in India and comparing it to worship is not acceptable.
"He should be taken to task for this. It is not expected from a man of his age and stature. He should apologise to the women of the country," Womens' rights activist, Ranjana Kumari said.
CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said Shankaracharya's comment is far removed from reality and the Constitution of India.
"Will the Shankaracharya answer that all these years women were not allowed into the temple, so was there absolutely no problem that women faced...So all these years women were not there but many women faced so many problems and so the thinking itself is far removed from reality, from India's Constitution, from people of India's experience, that just has to be rejected with contempt it deserves," she said.
People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) member Kavita Srivastav demanded an apology from the Shankaracharya and threatened to launch a protest against him.
"What else can be more outrageous than this statement...He is silent on the rapes committed by men and the negligence of police towards such cases and he is silent on the protection being given to rapists also.
"I think Shankaracharya should take back his words and apologise. Otherwise our Mahila Andolan will give a befitting reply to him," she said.
Shankaracharya's comment came three days after the ban on the entry of women into the inner sanctum of the famous Shani shrine was revoked by the temple authorities.
