Karnataka's legislators, cutting across party lines, have extended their support to actor Jayamala and said that the practices at the famous Sabarimala temple are 'anti-women'.
Jayamala is under fire from various quarters after claiming recently that she had entered the temple.
Women aged between 10 and 50 are not allowed to enter the temple.
"We are living in a modern world. How can such a revered temple like Sabarimala have archaic rules that prohibit women from entering it? Are women not human beings?" Congress MLA S S Patil told rediff.com.
"The ban on women to enter the temple is an insult to the entire women folk in India. It is nothing but untouchability," Patil said, urging the Centre to take up the issue with the Kerala government.
The Karnataka Assembly will take up the issue for discussion once again on Monday.
"Such discrimination against women, particularly a Kannadiga, should be discussed on the floor of the house," Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge said.
Jayamala, now 47, is unfazed by the controversy though. 'I have not committed any mistake because I visited Lord Ayyappa. I have faith in my God,' she said in a statement.
She said the unnecessary controversy had pained her a lot and appealed to the Travancore Devaswom Board that manages the shrine to end to it and allow her to live in peace.
'I will celebrate my 50th birthday by visiting the shrine again,' the Kannada actress added.
