Hegde said that the Sabarimala row and the law and order situation in Kerala is the state government’s failure and a "daylight rape on the Hindus".

In a shocking statement, Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde on Wednesday likened the controversy surrounding the entry of women in Kerala's Sabarimala temple to rape. Hegde said that the Sabarimala row and the law and order situation in Kerala is the state government’s failure and a "daylight rape on the Hindus".

Hegde said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s "prejudice is creating confusion among the people". He said that even though the Supreme Court has given its directions in the Sabarimala issue, the power to maintain the law and order situation in Kerala rests with the state government.

"The Kerala government should have managed the situation without hurting the faith of the masses. But the state government entirely failed. It’s daylight rape on the Hindu people, he added.

#WATCH Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde on #Sabarimala row says, "Kerala govt entirely failed. It’s totally daylight rape on Hindu people." pic.twitter.com/brKdVApSZ8

— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2019

Hegde's statement came on the day protests erupted across the state after two women in their 40s entered the Lord Ayyappa temple early Wednesday and offered prayers.

The same was confirmed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Following the entry of the women at the shrine, the chief priest closed the temple to perform the "purification" ceremony. The shrine was reopened in the afternoon.

As soon as the news broke out, right-wing activists blocked highways and forced closure of shops and markets. They were later detained by police.

An umbrella organisation of various pro-Hindutva groups have called for a state-wide shutdown on Thursday (January 3), amid protests at several places.

Accusing the government of betraying the devotees, Sabarimala Karma Samithi (SMS) also called for a state-wide shutdown but, the traders association said that it would not cooperate with it.

Kerala has been on the edge since the Supreme Court, on September 28, permitted women in the age group of 10-50 to offer prayers at the shrine. Many women have previously attempted to enter the Sabarimala but were forced to give in to the frenzied protests by devotees and right wing outfits.