“This may be the first time in the history of a State in which a group of people are protesting saying that they don’t need their rights,” said Jansy Jose, a women’s rights activist, at a meeting organised by Anweshi in Kozhikode on Wednesday.

The meeting observed that the protests against the Supreme Court’s verdict, permitting the entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala temple, was part of a conspiracy to pull women back into the state of slavery. “The saddest part is that some women are glorifying their slavery by joining the protests,” said K. Ajitha, Anweshi president.

She said the ongoing protests were anti-democratic, anti-secularist, and more importantly anti-women. “For us, it is a matter of equality, not religion or politics,” she said.

“It is not about Sabarimala. Everyone should have the freedom to go anywhere in the country,” said activist M.G. Mallika.

‘Embrace changes’

Earlier, Sujatha Balusseri, a homemaker, opened the meeting. A staunch believer, Ms. Sujatha maintained that it should be left to women to decide whether they wanted to go to Sabarimala or not. “Though hesitantly we welcomed the change when women wearing churidar were allowed into Guruvayur temple, it is no more a news now. We should embrace changes,” she added.