Sabarimala row: Smriti Irani's remark invites complaint in Bihar court

By Aakanksha Raghuvanshi

Oct 26, 2018

01:55 pm

What's the story

A complaint was lodged at a Sitamarhi court in Bihar on Thursday against Union Minister Smriti Irani for her alleged remarks on allowing women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala. A controversy had erupted after Irani said at an event in Mumbai on Tuesday that women had a right to pray but "not desecrate" places of worship. Here's more.

Twitter Post

Smriti calls the controversy as an agenda against her

These are 2 factual statements. Rest of the propaganda / agenda being launched using me as bait is well just that ... bait.

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) October 23, 2018

The complaint

Complaint lodged by advocate Thakur Chandan Singh

The complaint was lodged before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sitamarhi, Saroj Kumari, by advocate Thakur Chandan Singh. The complaint has been lodged under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy to commit an offense punishable with death), 124A (sedition), 353 (deterring public servant from discharge of duty), and 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code.

Twitter Post

As a woman, I'm not free to have opinions: Irani

But what fascinates me though does not surprise me is that as a woman I am not free to have my own point of view. As long as I conform to the ‘liberal’ point of view I’m acceptable. How Liberal is that ??

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) October 23, 2018

Information

Hearing scheduled on October 29

The advocate Thakur Chandan Singh has made protesters against the entry of women into the hilltop shrine as a party in the case. The matter is likely to come up for hearing on October 29.