Maharashtra: Prohibition of entry to women in Shani temple a non issue, says Pankaja Munde

Minister for women and child development Pankaja Munde on Thursday said that prohibition on women's entry in Shani temple at Shani Shingnapur was a non-issue, and not an insult to the women.

While replying to a question on Shani Shingnapur issue during a press conference, Munde said it was not proper to conduct TV debates on the issue. She also pointed out that women generally also do not visit Hanuman temples, as he was a bachelor, and the same is true about deity Shani.

Munde said that it would be wrong if there is female foeticide, and it would be an injustice towards women if they were not provided with equal opportunities in education and employment. But it was not an injustice if women were not allowe entry at a particular temple or religious place.

Replying to a question, she further said that it was wrong to wash the entire temple premises with milk after a young girl entered the stone square at the Shani temple last week.

Queried about the government stand on the issue, Munde said she was not aware as to what the government, as a whole, thought about the issue. She added, "As a woman, what I feel is that it is a non-issue. As a person, I am against all kinds of superstitions. But I strongly feel that religion and culture should not create animosity between people and vitiate the atmosphere."