Pankaja Munde's statement, which came in the wake of a woman offering prayer at the temple by breaching security, drew sharp reaction from the Opposition.

Defending the practice of not allowing women to perform 'puja' at Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra Rural Development minister Pankaja Munde on Thursday said that traditional rituals cannot be "linked with insult" of female fraternity.Ms Munde's statement, which came in the wake of a woman offering prayer at the temple by breaching security, drew sharp reaction from Opposition Nationalist Congress Party, which criticised her."These are traditions and cannot be linked with insult of woman fraternity," Ms Munde said, defending the age-old 'ban' after the woman devotee's action last week created a furore."The outrage over the woman entering the Shani temple is a non-issue," the BJP leader said.Chitra Wagh, women's wing President of the State NCP, criticised Ms Munde's statement."In a progressive state like Maharashtra, instead of appreciating the move to break the traditions that are against women, the BJP Minister, by making such a statement, has taken State back to an era where women were not treated at par with men," Ms Wagh maintained.The temple, which attracts thousands of pilgrims daily, is devoted to Lord Shani and women are traditionally barred from offering prayers at the shrine, located about 250km from Mumbai.