Women’s opinion should be sought before deciding whether women of all ages should be allowed for darshan at the hill shrine of Sabarimala in Kerala, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan said here today.

Replying to a specific question on the Kerala government favouring the entry of women into Sabarimala, Radhakrishan told reporters that though there was religious freedom for all, there were also certain religious rituals and code which should not be violated.

“Everyone has a right to offer prayer in a temple, but when certain rituals are followed, it shouldn’t be violated. Under such circumstances, the opinion of women should be taken into consideration to decide if they should be allowed entry into Sabarimala to offer prayers,” he said.

To another question on the increasing trend of farmer suicides, Radhakrishnan, here to launch a website and resume bank of People’s Seva Centre by BJP State General Secretary Vanati Srinivasan, said that all the states and central governments should work in tandem to stop such incidents.

Stating that the Narendra Modi government was giving importance to the development of farmers and villages, he said that in the last budget alone Rs. 1 lakh crores were given as loan to farmers. “All the states should take responsibility to ensure that the schemes from the Centre reach the common man,” he said.

To a question on the one-day ban on NDTV, the minister said that the media should exercise self-restraint. If there are violations and if democracy is put at stake in the name of freedom of expression then it needs to be curbed, he said.

Replying to another question on employment opportunities, he claimed that the ‘Make in India’ project has increased the production capacity and employment opportunities for youngsters in India.