Union minister Smriti Irani today drew an analogy that made use of used sanitary napkins while describing her opinion on the issue of allowing women of all ages entry into the Sabarimala temple. The Supreme Court, in a landmark verdict, recently threw open the doors of Sabarimala temple in Kerala to all women; earlier women of menstruating age were barred entry to the temple, which is the abode of Lord Ayyappa, who is considered to be celibate. Irani today spoke on the issue at an event in Mumbai. During the discussion, the issue of women's entry into Sabarimala came up. At that moment, Irani (who is married to a Parsi) recalled how she was once barred entry into a fire temple in Mumbai. (Non-Parsi women are not allowed to enter fire temples.) Irani said that back then she accepted the rule and respected it by not entering the temple. Irani then explained that the "right to pray" does not mean that somebody has the "right to desecrate". "That is the difference we need to recognise and respect," Irani said before she went on to provide an example. "I am nobody to speak on the Supreme Court verdict [allowing women of all ages entry into the Sabarimala temple] because I am a current serving cabinet minister...But [it is] just plain common sense...Would you take sanitary napkins steeped [sic] in menstrual blood and walk into a friend's home?" Irani asked. "You would not," the Union minister answered, continuing, "And would you think that it is respectful to do the same when you walk into the house of god?" Irani's comments were captured on video. News agency ANI put out a minute-long clip in which Irani is heard making the comment about sanitary napkins. #WATCH Union Minister Smriti Irani says," I have right to pray,but no right to desecrate. I am nobody to speak on SC verdict as I'm a serving cabinet minster. Would you take sanitary napkins seeped in menstrual blood into a friend's home? No.Why take them into house of God?" pic.twitter.com/Fj1um4HGFk ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2018 A longer, 30-minute version of the video was put up by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), which had organised the Mumbai event where Irani was speaking. The ORF video has the bit about Irani talking about her experience of not being allowed entry into a fire temple. The ANI version does not. However, her comments about sanitary napkins are stark and clear. However, the Union minister dismissed reporting of her comments as "fake news", saying in a Twitter post that she "will post [her] video soon". Fake news ...... calling you out on it. Will post my video soon. https://t.co/ZZzJ26KBXa Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) October 23, 2018 She did not post a video, but put a tweet thread clarifying her comments. Irani did not deny making the comments about sanitary napkins. In fact, she stood by them. "As far as those who jump the gun regarding women visiting friend's place with a sanitary napkin dipped in menstrual blood - I am yet to find a person who 'takes' a blood soaked napkin to 'offer' to any one let alone a friend," Irani said. Since many people are talking about my comments let me comment on my comment. As a practising Hindu married to a practising Zoroastrian I am not allowed to enter a fire temple to pray. Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) October 23, 2018 Irani also said that she respects the Zoroastrian community's stand of not allowing non-Parsi women entry into fire temples. "But what fascinates me though does not surprise me is that as a woman I am not free to have my own point of view. As long as I conform to the 'liberal' point of view I'm acceptable. How Liberal is that??" Irani questioned, ending her tweet thread. As far as those who jump the gun regarding women visiting friend’s place with a sanitary napkin dipped in menstrual blood I am yet to find a person who takes’ a blood soaked napkin to offer’ to any one let alone a friend. Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) October 23, 2018 Meanwhile, the Supreme Court verdict has failed to have any effect on the ground. The Sabarimala temple was recently opened for prayers in Kerala. However, women between the ages of 10 and 50 were not allowed to enter the temple by protesters who are unhappy with the Supreme Court verdict. The top court has also been petitioned to review its Sabarimala verdict. The court will hear the matter in November. READ | Mumbai's Haji Ali holds mirror to Sabarimala READ | RSS chief finds fault with Supreme Court's order allowing women entry in Sabarimala READ | Legend of Sabarimala: Love story that kept women from Lord Ayyappa WATCH | Women forced to return from Sabarimala<doc-sep>Commenting on the Supreme Court order about opening the Sabarimala temple in Kerala to women of all ages, Union minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday, October 23, said the right to pray did not mean the right to desecrate. Speaking at an event in Mumbai called the Young Thinkers' Conference, Smriti Irani, 42, said: “I am nobody to speak of the Supreme Court verdict because I am a current serving cabinet minister... I believe I have the right to pray but I don't have the right to desecrate. And that is the difference that we need to recognise and respect.” “...but just plain common sense. Would you take sanitary napkins steeped in menstrual blood and walk in to a friend's home? You could not. And would you think it is respectable to do the same thing when you are walking into the house of god?” questioned the minister, who is not new to controversies.<doc-sep>Amid protests against the Supreme Court order opening the Sabarimala temple in Kerala to women of all ages, Union minister Smriti Irani Tuesday said the right to pray did not mean the right to desecrate. "Just a common sense. Would you take sanitary napkins seeped in menstrual blood into a friend's house? No. Then why take it to the house of God? ", said Irani.<doc-sep>Image Source : ANI Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani. (Photo/ANI) Union Minister Smriti Irani's latest statement over the raging issue over the entry of women inside Kerala's Sabarimala temple is likely to trigger a fresh round of the debate. Speaking at an event - Young Thinkers' Conference - in Mumbai, Irani said everyone has the right to pray, but not to desecrate. "I have right to pray,but no right to desecrate. I am nobody to speak on SC verdict as I am a serving cabinet minster. Would you take sanitary napkins seeped in menstrual blood into a friend's home? No. Why take them into house of God?" the Union textiles minister said. "I am a practising Hindu married to a Zoroastrian. I have ensured that both my kids are practising Zoroastrians, who can go to the fire temple and pray," Irani added. WATCH: What Smriti Irani's remark over Sabarimala row Smriti Irani's statement has come at a time when women were stopped by Lord Ayyappa devotees from climbing up to the Sabarimala temple as protests against the Supreme Court order opening the hilltop shrine to women of all ages continued across Kerala. The Supreme Court's five-judge constitution bench headed by then chief justice Dipak Misra had on September 28 lifted the ban on entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine. Despite the apex court's order, no women below 50 years of age could enter the temple which opened for five days last week. 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Textile Minister Smriti Irani landed in a soup after she made an insensitive remark on Sabarimala issue. The Union minister, in the middle of a fierce debate over the ban on women of menstrual age entering Kerala's famous Sabarimala shrine and a Supreme Court order overturning it, said that everyone has a right to pray, but not to desecrate. "I am nobody to comment on the Supreme Court verdict but I believe I have the right to pray, but not the right to desecrate," Smriti Irani, 42, said at an event in Mumbai called the Young Thinkers' Conference. "Would you take sanitary napkins steeped in menstrual blood and walk into a friend's home? You could not. And would you think it is respectable to do the same thing when you are walking into the house of God? So that is the difference," said the minister. Irani shared an incident when she had to wait outside the temple, with her son inside. "I was once shooed away from praying inside a fire temple at Andheri and handed over my son to priest for completing Navjote formalities. I stood on the road outside and prayed," she said. #WATCH Union Minister Smriti Irani says," I have right to pray,but no right to desecrate. I am nobody to speak on SC verdict as I'm a serving cabinet minster. Would you take sanitary napkins seeped in menstrual blood into a friend's home? No.Why take them into house of God?" pic.twitter.com/Fj1um4HGFk — ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2018 There are sharp reactions on social media on the minister’s statement. Wasn’t “God” the one who created women and their menstrual cycle?🤔 so not only must women hide something as natural as menstruation.. but we must also keep it away from “the house of God” right. — French. (@Jinx_Crimson91) October 23, 2018 A theist would say "God has no problem ,as god has made human this way." Reactionaries wanted to keep women as second class citizen in the name of tradition. Being a woman and being a feminist is totally different thing.Irani is batting for patriarchs. — Mukesh (@Mukesde7) October 23, 2018 Smriti Irani ji, Will you refuse to welcome your friend to your home during menstrual cycle days ?? ?https://t.co/emxEfTd1ZP — Mudra Parashar (@MudraParashar) October 23, 2018 If menstruation is impure then to me the entire creation (shristi) and our existance and individuality is impure — Siona Gogoi (@AtomicBlow) October 23, 2018 Have you NOT gone to any of your friends' or relatives' houses during your periods? — Data Privacy (@ameershahul) October 23, 2018 Wow......if a woman has an opinion like this about menstrual cycle then what to say. Speechless. but this lady should condemned for saying this being a women. — ˈlɑ̀ːɡɔm👽 (@Lagom_love) October 23, 2018