A decision by a government school in Kerala to introduce trousers and shirt for both girls and boys has led to protests and demonstrations, especially from Muslim religious and cultural organizations. These organizations have alleged that the move amounts to imposing patriarchy and liberal values on women, and accused the school authorities of denying the […]
Tata Consultancy Services, India’s largest IT and outsourcing company, said it will buy out partner General Electric from their all-women business process outsourcing company in Saudi Arabia. GE expressed a desire to exit the venture, started in 2013, according to the Indian company. The center has grown from 20 employees seven years ago to almost […]
Home Minister Amit Shah today said that he was opposed to the idea of the judiciary donning the mantle of ecclesiastical courts and telling people how to worship their gods and interfering in their religious practices. He was answering a question about his “dual stand” on the issues of Sabarimala temple and Ram Janmabhoomi temple, […]
The Sabarimala temple case has been referred to a larger, seven-judge bench, giving relief to pro-tradition activists. The case has been referred to a seven-judge bench on the basis of a 3:2 ruling by the judges. The case refers to a petition filed by some Delhi-based lawyers complaining that women devotees of Ayyappa are not […]
A woman from Kerala has been booked for assault after she complained of ill-treatment by a security guard at a private hospital in Aluva, Kerala. Arya, who hails from Payyannur in North Kerala and works in Kalamassery, was booked for assault after CCTV footage of her altercation with a security guard revealed that it was […]
A sensational rape case of 2016, in which a housewife accused three brothers — including a CPIM ward councillor — of gang rape in Kerala, has been found to be fake and closed, said media reports quoting a status update given by the police to the local MLA. Two prominent celebrity women’s rights activists, dubbing […]
Shweta Menon, the former Bollywood actress and prominent Malayalam TV personality seen by many in Kerala as the ideal careerwoman, said she disagreed with the popular feminist portrayal of women as the victims of patriarchy. Menon, the daughter of an Air Force officer and a self-described ‘fauji kid‘, said it was up to the person […]
Opposition party leaders today claimed that they were cheated by the BJP government, which, they said, broke a promise not to present Triple Talaq bill and UAPA bill in the Rajya Sabha before they were examined by select committee of MPs. Speaking to the media, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who heads the Congress Party’s Rajya Sabha […]
Shripad Naik, junior minister of defence with Government of India, has denied that his ministry has any plans to admit girls to Sainik Schools, contrary to claims made by predecessor Subhash Bhamre last year. “Presently there is no proposal to admit girls in Sainik Schools,” Naik said today in parliament. Sainik Schools were established in […]
Congress leader K Sudhakaran, the UDF candidate from Kannur, found himself fending off some unwanted attention after a campaign video irked netizens for ostensibly portraying women in bad light. Netizens accused the video, shared by Sudhakaran’s official Facebook page, of sending a message that educating women is pointless and that they can never do a […]
The Supreme Court today directed the Kerala government to provide full security to Kanakadurga and Bindu Ammini, the two women who entered Sabarimala temple last month. The two women had sought 24-hour police protection, claiming that there was a threat to their lives. They also pointed to extensive attacks coming from Internet users and social […]
Women’s rights activist Trupti Desai has decided to return, but has promised to come back, Malayalam media reported, quoting police sources. The decision comes after protesters at the Cochin International Airport refused to budge even after 14 hours. Desai had been holed up at the airport after the police cautioned her against venturing out in […]
Bhumata Brigade head and women’s rights activist Trupti Desai has been blocked by protesters at the Cochin International Airport by protesters. The activist reached Cochin at around 4:40 AM, and quickly drew protesters. The number of protesters outside the airport has been increasing as news about Desai’s entry spread and currently number in the hundreds. […]
Adding to the headache of the Kerala state government in the Sabarimala matter, Pune-based women’s rights activist Trupti Desai said today that the she is planning to visit the shrine later this month. “The temple will open on 17 November. I will soon write a letter to the SP [of police] and the CM [chief […]
Rehana Fathima, the women’s rights activist who came closer than anyone else towards entering the Dharma Shastha temple Sabarmala has said she was motivated to undertake the controversial pilgrimage by her desire to know more about the worship of Ayyappa. “I am extremely interested in knowing the essence of all religions. That is how I […]
The Kerala unit of the Congress Party today called on the BJP to issue an ordinance to give denominational status to Ayyappa devotees and reiterated its stand that it was against the entry of young women into the temple. Ramesh Chennithala, the leader of the Congress Party in the state legislative assembly, took aim at […]
Sabarimala Chief Priest Kandararu Rajeevaru has said that he will shut the temple and walk out if the Kerala Police continue to force their way into the temple with a woman’s rights activist and a female journalist. “I have discussed this matter with the seniors of the family,” said the priest, “and have arrived at […]
Riot-like conditions prevailed in Nilakkal and surrounding areas as thousands of Ayyappa devotees and Kerala Police engaged in pitched battle involving stone throwing and lathi charges. The situation worsened after the police moved early morning to dismantle the local pandals put up by devotees, who had used the camp to conduct vehicle checking yesterday. Women […]
Libi CS, a self-proclaimed atheist, was taken away by police today on her way to the holy site of Sabarimala. The woman, a native of Cherthala in Kerala, had announced on Facebook yesterday that she, along with three of her friends, will visit Sabarimala today. “When Rahul Easwar (leader of the agitation) is camping at […]
Chetan Bhagat, India’s most popular pulp fiction writer, today sought to put his foot down on allegations that he sexually harassed people on WhatsApp. His response comes in the wake of yet a new allegation, four days after a woman leaked a conversation with him in which he confessed to ‘trying to woo’ her. In […]
