MILLIONS of women lined up in a “women’s wall” stretching almost 400 miles from Keralan capital Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod in the north of the state to stand against the oppression of their sex today.

The wall, which saw women line roads and motorways across the Indian state make clenched-fist salutes and listen to speakers condemning sexism and discrimination, was organised by civil and religious organisations brought together by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), which leads Kerala’s government.

The show of force comes after confrontations over women’s right to enter a temple in Sabarimala in the state. Upheld by India’s Supreme Court, women’s right to go inside has been defended by the Keralan government but women seeking to do so have come under attack by Hindu chauvinists and ministers from Narendra Modi’s ruling BJP have openly called on followers to defy the court’s ruling and prevent entry.