'Save Sabarimala' campaigner Rahul Easwar apologises for the attack on Republic TV's South Bureau Chief Pooja Prasanna

'Save Sabarimala' campaigner Rahul Easwar, who was taken into judicial custody for 14 days, has apologised for the attack on Republic TV's South Bureau Chief Pooja Prasanna by a mob of protesters as she was on her way to cover Sabarimala Temple opening its door for women aged 10-50 for the first time in centuries.  

When confronted and asked to take moral responsibility for the attack, Rahul Easwar said: 

"We are believers of Ayappa and we follow Gandhi. If any mistake happened, we don't have any shame in owning it up and apologising. Please remember that 99% of the protest was absolutely Gandhian and non-violent and the rest 1% was violent. I apologise to Republic TV and especially Pooja Ji for what happened. There is nothing wrong in owning up mistake. It was a clever provocation by Police". 

He further added that the "protesters were provoked by the police": 

"Non-violent is not negotiable at all. If something like that happened, I apologise for that and I take moral responsibility. Please remember that the devotees were provoked by Police. Devotees were mercilessly lathi-charged". 

" I was requesting 10 minutes from the police to calm the tempers but they immediately locked me up. They wanted to keep the temper so high so that they can mark all the protesters bad. 634 protests happened all across India and only 3-4 happened in Kerala", he added.

 Read: Sabarimala: The Thousand Words Behind The Picture Of Pooja Prasanna Pleading With The Mob That Converged On Her

Easwar, who had campaigned heavily for protestors to obstruct women devotees who were attempting to exercise their right to pray, was lodged in Kottarakkara sub-jail, having been charged with a non-bailable offence for hindering the duties of government officials in Sabarimala. Rahul Easwar's wife Deepa Vijayan had confirmed to Republic TV that the matter related to him taking objection to women constables being at Pamba base camp, fearing that they may go to the temple. 

Read: Rahul Easwar Sent To 14 Days Custody And Will Go On Hunger Strike In His Cell, Deepa Vijayan Confirms