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Shani Shingnapur Temple Row: Maharashtra CM Says Women Have The Right To Pray

Maharashtra CM Says Women Have The Right To Pray,Wants Talks To Resolve Shani Temple Row
An Indian woman praying with oil lamp, Vermillion on her forehead.
Subir Basak via Getty Images
An Indian woman praying with oil lamp, Vermillion on her forehead.

MUMBAI -- Maintaining that women have the right to pray, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today favoured a dialogue between authorities of Shani Shingnapur temple and activists to find a way out over the ban on entry of female devotees into the inner sanctum of the shrine.

He urged the temple authorities to hold a dialogue with the women's group that is campaigning for entry of female devotees into the inner sanctum of the shrine in Ahmednagar district.

भारतीय परंपरेत आणि हिंदु धर्मात स्त्रियांना उपासनेचे स्वातंत्र्य नेहमीच राहीले आहे.प्रथा परंपरांमध्ये कालसापेक्ष बदल हिच आमची संस्कृती आहे.

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 26, 2016

"Indian culture and Hindu religion gives women the right to pray. A change in yesterday's traditions is our culture. Discrimination in praying is not in our culture. The temple authorities should resolve the issue through a dialogue," tweeted Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio.

Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde said the government will facilitate talks between the temple authorities and women activists to arrive at an amicable solution.

"If there is a dispute between activists and temple authorities over allowing women access to the (Shani Shingnapur) temple, the state government will act as facilitator for talks between them so that the issue can be resolved amicably," Shinde told .

"The activists (members of Bhumata Brigade) were detained as they had violated the law. CrPC Section 144 had been imposed by police (banning Assembly of people) which they did not adhere to."

"As far as their religious views are concerned, it is the government's duty to ensure that the issue is resolved," he said.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.