Trupti Desai on the detente at Kochi airport: She tells ANI, "We reached the airport at 4:30 am. Protests were being held outside. We booked a taxi 2-3 times, but drivers have been threatened that their vehicle will be vandalised if they offer us a drive.


"Police have said that we can't go outside now. Police tried to evacuate us from another gate but protesters were there as well.


"Does this mean protesters are scared that we'll reach Sabarimala once we reach Nilakkal, or, are they trying to scare us? We won't return until we have 'darshan'. "


Tension prevailed at the airport as protesters announced that Desai and her colleagues, who reached Kochi at around 4.40 am from Pune, would not be allowed to go out of the airport.


Desai added, "I have not asked for VIP security, I have been calling Cochin Inspector General but he is not responding. I messaged him too but he is not responding to that as well. It is the duty of the government to provide security as it is a Supreme Court order now."

The temple opens Friday evening, for the third time since the apex court verdict on September 28 allowed women of all age group to offer prayers at the hilltop Lord Ayyappa temple though none could do so following stiff resistance from devotees and activists, opposing any change in the temple traditions.


Protesting local BJP leaders at the airport said the devotees would not let Desai and her colleagues, reportedly total six in numbers, to come out of the airport and proceed to Sabarimala temple.     


They alleged that Desai and her team came here to violate the centuries--old custom of the temple that prevents entry of women and girls in the age group of 10 and 50.


"She (Desai) came here not for darshan but for disturbing a peaceful Sabarimala  pilgrim season beginning Saturday," they said.


The Ayyappa devotees comprising women and BJP workers, assembled in large numbers outside the airport, continued their protest chanting Ayyappa mantra. -- PTI