The controversial statement of Travancore Devaswom Board President Prayar Gopalakrishnan became reason for disconcert when he stated that decent women from respactable families will not go to Sabarimala temple.

“We will not allow Sabarimala to become Thailand,” he stated hinting that he didn’t want the holy place to turn into a tourist destination. He also cited that there were security as well as traditional reasons questioning if women between the ages of 10 and 50 be able to climb uphill under difficult situations with no safety.

It has been a norm in the Sabarimala temple to not allow women between 10 and 50 years old. After a petitioned filed by the Indian Young Lawyers Association, the apex court had referred the issue to a five judge constitutional bench.