NEW DELHI: A temple in Hamirpur was purified with ‘Gangajal’ and statues of deities were sent to Allahabad for purification after a BJP MLA, Manisha Anuragi , entered the temple earlier this month despite a ban on entry of women.

A visibly upset Anuragi said that restricting women's entry inside a temple is regressive.

"It is an insult to women if such things have happened. These are deeds of half-witted people," she said.

The priest of the temple defended his action and said that no woman has entered the temple till today.

"When Manisha Anuragi entered the temple I was not there otherwise I would not have allowed her to enter," said the priest of the temple.

The incident comes in the background of a Supreme Court's observation terming the ban on women's entry into Kerala's Sabarimala temple "unconstitutional".

On July 18, the apex court observed that banning the entry of women in Sabarimala by the temple authorities is unconstitutional. Top court judge DY Chandrachud had said that the right to pray is equal for both men and women.

