New Delhi, October 23: Union Minister Smriti Irani at an event in Mumbai has shared her views on the ongoing protests over women's entry in Sabarimala Temple. According to an Indian Express report, she was quoted as saying, "Everyone has the right to pray, but not to desecrate. It is plain common sense. Would you take sanitary napkins soaked in menstrual blood into a friend’s home? So why would you take them into the house of God?" Sabarimala Verdict: Why These 5 Arguments in Favour of Restricting Women’s Entry Into the Ayyappa Temple Are Baseless.

On October 17, the Supreme Court opened the doors of the Sabarimala temple to all women in a 4:1 verdict. There have been massive protests going on ever since then, and dozens of women were stopped from entering the Lord Ayyappa's temple. The temple will open again on November 5 for one day and will reopen on November 16 for a period of twelve days. Sabarimala Temple Gates to Shut Today, Last Attempt for Women to Enter Sanctum Sanctorum.

Watch the video where Smriti Irani makes the shocking statement

Earlier on October 19, woman activist Rehana Fatima and Kavitha Jakkal, a journalist, had tried and failed to enter the Sabarimala temple. Both of them had to stop after the head priest warned them that he will close the gates and stop all the rituals. After the police explained to them the whole scenario, both of them agreed to return. The duo was just few hundred metres away from the sanctum sanctorum. Smriti Irani's Remark on Women's Entry Into Sabarimala Temple: Struggling to Make Sense of The Bizarre 'Basic Common Sense'

The  Supreme Court's verdict on Sabarimala Temple has evoked mixed reactions, while the BJP and Kerala Congress unit opposed women’s entry in the shrine, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government said it would follow the apex court’s order. According to the belief, women in their menstrual age are not allowed to enter the historic Ayyappa shrine. The devotees contended that they were not a party in the case in which the SC had passed the judgement and thus should now be heard. The Apex Court has said that it will hear the pleas seeking review of its judgement on November 13.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 23, 2018 01:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).