BJP chief Amit Shah on Tuesday accused Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of treating devotees headed to the Sabarimala temple as “Gulag inmates”, saying pilgrims were being forced to spend nights “next to pig droppings and dustbins”.

The way Pinarayi Vijayan’s govt is handling the sensitive issue of Sabarimala is disappointing. Kerala police is treating young girls, mothers and aged inhumanly, forcing them to take the arduous pilgrimage, without even basic facilities like food, water, shelter & clean toilets.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 20, 2018

If several reports of flushing resting places for devotees and them having to spend nights next to pig droppings & dustbin are true, then Pinarayi Vijayan must realize that he can’t treat Ayyappa devotees like inmates of Gulag. We won't let LDF crush people's faith with impunity.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 20, 2018

If Pinarayi Vijayan thinks he can rise against people’s movement to preserve Sabarimala by arresting K Surendran, our Thrissur District President and 6 others, then he is mistaken. We stand firmly with every Ayyappa devotee, who holds the Sabarimala tradition close to his heart.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 20, 2018

Shah added that the Kerala government was trying to “crush” people’s faith but the saffron party was “firmly with the devotees”.

“The way Pinarayi Vijayan’s govt is handling the sensitive issue of Sabarimala is disappointing. Kerala police is treating young girls, mothers and aged inhumanly, forcing them to take the arduous pilgrimage, without even basic facilities like food, water, shelter & clean toilets,” Shah tweeted.

The temple complex and nearby areas had witnessed protests by devotees, when it was opened for monthly puja for eight days in October and early this month, against the LDF government's decision to implement the apex court verdict allowing women in the previously banned 10-50 age group to pray at the shrine.

Unprecedented restrictions were enforced for the devotees in view of the frenzied protests witnessed when the shrine opened briefly last month and early this month when at least a dozen women in the 10-50 age group were prevented from entering the shrine.