Ram Vilas Paswan's party opposes ban of women in Maharashtra temple

New Delhi: Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday opposes the ban on women from entering the sanctum sactorium at Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra saying his party has always been against any discrimination in public places on the basis of caste, religion and sex.

"LJP opposes the ban on women worshipping at Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district. LJP has from the very beginning of its existence been opposing any discrimination in public places on the basis of caste, religion or sex," Paswan said on Twitter.

The remarks of Paswan, who heads LJP, a key ally of NDA in Bihar, came amidst a raging controversy the issue for last two days.

A plan by 350 women activists to barge into the Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra to break a 400-year-old tradition banning women from entering its sacred sanctum was yesterday foiled by police when they were stopped at a village, 70 km from the shrine.