The Ranragini Bhumata Brigade (RBB), a women’s group, will launch a state-level awareness drive to demand equality for women. The drive will be launched from Latur on February 28, according to RBB president Trupti Desai.
In a press release issued on Saturday, Ms Desai said that their agitation for equality in darshan from the chauthara of Shani Shingnapur temple, had completed one month.
“The chief minister has not taken any firm decision so far. The CM agrees with our demand that women and men are equal. Then why is it taking so long ” she questioned through the press release.
“With a view that the CM should speed up his decision, the RBB has decided to launch an awareness drive throughout the state. The awareness drive is titled ‘Mukhya mantry saheb jage hva, ata tari mahilansathi nirnai ghya’ (Hon CM wake up, at least now take a decision for women)”, the press release stated.
The programme will begin at Dayanand Vidyalaya Hall in Latur at 11 am on Sunday, the press release added. RBB is agitating for equal rights to worship in temples. Agitations have been held earlier for darshan in Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district.
RBB claims that currently only men are allowed to climb the chauthara (holy platform) and wants this right for women too. The Devasthan Board claims that no one is allowed on the chauthara except the priest.
The activists then tried to stage a forced darshan in Shani Shingnapur on Republic Day but were detained and sent back by the police, as tensions rose in the temple town.
RBB also wants entry of women in the sanctum sanctorum of Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik district, stating that only men are allowed inside and asked the Devasthan trust to allow entry for women by March 7, Mahashivratri Day, or they would force their way in.
