Pankaja Munde defends ban on women at Maharashtra temple

Mumbai: Defending the practice of not allowing women to perform 'puja' at Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra Rural Development minister Pankaja Munde today opined that traditional rituals cannot be "linked with insult" of female fraternity.

Munde's statement, which came in the wake of a woman offering 'puja' at the temple by breaching security, drew sharp reaction from Opposition NCP, which criticised her.

"These are



traditions and cannot be linked with insult of woman fraternity," Munde said, defending the age-old `ban' after the woman devotee's action last week created a furore.

"The outrage over the woman entering the Shani temple is a non-issue," the BJP leader said. Chitra Wagh, women's wing President of the State NCP, criticised Munde's statement.

The temple, which attracts thousands of pilgrims daily, is devoted to Lord Shani and women are traditionally barred from offering prayers at the shrine, located about 250km from Mumbai.