The steep-ish incline on Hanuman Tekdi, Sion-Koliwada, was bedecked with saffron. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) flags fluttered in the hot Sunday evening breeze, as VHP secretary general Milind Parande addressed the press on the hot button topics ­– Ram Janmabhoomi and the Sabarimala verdict.

Parande, who is Delhi-based, was in Mumbai over the weekend. He said straight up at a conference held at the Ashok Singhal Rugna Seva Sadan in Sion yesterday, in the Sabarimala case, the VHP negated completely that this was a question of gender equality. "It is about tradition. Upholding the unique tradition of a unique temple is not discrimination. There are many temples dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, only Sabarimala bars women in the age group 10 to 50 from accessing it. Lakhs of women have faith in this tradition. We see the communist government of Kerala trying to erode the faith of the people by giving lathicharge orders against women who want to uphold tradition. We have witnessed Christian, Muslim and communists trying to get into the temple. Those who do not revere Lord Ayyappa try to get in. This is also a design to break the faith of the people."