'Pray from outside if in jeans': Bajrang Dal posters spark uproar at Jabalpur temples; activists slam move
The posters, displayed by the right-wing vigilante group Mahakal Sangh International Bajrang Dal, instructed women to wear traditional Indian attire when visiting temples.
Females to cover their head inside temple premises, states poster
The posters stated, 'Those wearing miniskirts, jeans and tops and half pants must not enter temples and pray from outside. Only those wearing traditional Indian dresses must enter temple premises.' In addition, the posters called on women and girls to keep their heads covered inside temple premises, emphasising, 'only you can save Indian culture.'
Women activists of the city strongly condemned the posters. Ranjana Kurariya, an advocate and activist for women's rights said, 'What clothes we wear and what not is our right. We could wear a saree, salwar kurta, or even anything we feel like. Seeing such posters, women visiting the temples will feel hurt.'
Ankit Mishra, the district media in-charge of International Bajrang Dal, said that they had placed these posters in about 30 to 40 temples in the city. He stated that it is an appeal to females and not a diktat.
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