VIOLENCE flared in many parts of Kerala today as a “general strike” called by Hindu chauvinists in protest against women’s right to enter a temple saw supporters of India’s ruling BJP clash with police, feminists and communists.

The strike was called by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi, a local platform organised by the BJP’s street fighter wing the RSS to co-ordinate resistance to last September’s Supreme Court ruling that women should be allowed to enter the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, a decision which right-wing Hindu groups say offends its deity.

The BJP sees the mass action as a counter-attack following the 5.5 million-strong “women’s wall” organised in support of women’s rights by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on New Year’s Day.