NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi admitted that he differed from the stand taken by the Kerala unit of his party over allowing women of menstruating age to enter the Sabarimala temple. "It's a very emotional issue for men and women in Kerala," he noted.

Gandhi said his personal view was that women were equal to men and they should be allowed to go anywhere. “My party’s view on Sabarimala is that it is an extremely emotional issue for men and women in Kerala, and women in Kerala are supporting this idea. So we have a difference of opinion between me and my party. But as my party represents the people of Kerala in Kerala, I submit to their wishes,” he said.

He had earlier instructed his party colleagues in Kerala to abstain from aggressive agitation modes.