Kerala CM P Vijayan meets Governor to improve amenities for Sabarimala pilgrims

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday, November 22, met Governor P Sathasivam and pledged to improve amenities for the pilgrims visiting the Sabarimala temple, as the two-month season to pay obeisance to Lord Ayyappa peaks.

"During the half-an-hour meeting that began at 12.30pm, they discussed the measures taken to address complaints regarding lack of basic amenities like drinking water, toilets and restrooms at Nilackal, Pampa and on way to Sannidhanam," according to a statement released by the Governor's office.

The need to improve transport facility between Nilackal and Pampa was also discussed. The Governor also highlighted the grievance expressed by Pon Radhakrishnan, Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping, said the statement.

The two dignitaries also discussed complaints about police action and the possibility of lifting the restrictions imposed through Section 144.

"The Chief Minister has assured the Governor that all these issues will be looked into and acted upon as soon as possible," added the statement.

The Governor had received written petitions from Leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala, Sabarimala Karma Samithy and a delegation of the Kerala Congress on Wednesday, November 21.

An uneasy calm prevails in the temple town as Hindu groups and devotees have been protesting against the September 28 Supreme Court order that allowed women of all ages to enter the temple, ending the practice of not allowing girls and women aged 10-50.

The apex court on November 13 refused to stay the September verdict, three days before the temple opened this season.

The Left Democratic Front government led by the CPI-M has been trying to implement the apex court's verdict even as the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party and several Hindu groups are up in arms against it.

The meeting, which lasted for half-an-hour, assumes significance in the wake of protests launched by main Opposition Congress-led UDF and the BJP over restrictions and prohibitory orders in the temple complex, after it opened for the two-month long annual pilgrim season on November 16.

A delegation of the United Democratic Front (UDF), comprising Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and Oommen Chandy, had defied the prohibitory orders on Tuesday, November 20, at the base camps at Pamba and Nilackal.

BJP state General Secretary K Surendran along with two others had also tried to proceed to the Lord Ayyappa Temple from Nilackal, despite being advised by police personnel against visiting Sabarimala due to law and order issues. They were arrested on November 18.

The Governor in a series of tweets said he had invited Vijayan for a discussion on various issues related to Sabarimala.

"On receipt of petitions from various leaders and the general public, I invited Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan to Kerala Raj Bhavan for a discussion on the issues related to Sabarimala." Sathasivam said, during the meeting, he discussed with Vijayan measures to address complaints on lack of basic amenities like drinking water, toilets and restrooms at Nilackal, the base camp, and at Pampa en route to Sanidhanam.

"I highlighted the grievance expressed by Shri. Pon Radhakrishnan, @PonnaarrBJP Hon. Minister of State for Finance & Shipping. Need to improve transport facility between Nilackal & Pampa also was discussed in meeting with Chief Minister," he said.

Restrictions have been imposed following protests by devotees and activists of the BJP and the RSS over the Kerala government's decision to implement a Supreme Court order allowing the entry of women of all ages into the hill shrine.

On Wednesday, 72 pilgrims who were sent to jail for breaching prohibitory orders and protesting against the entry of women in the menstruating age, were released on bail.

A week after the Sabarimala temple opened for a two-month pilgrimage season, the number of pilgrims has touched a new low due to the protests as well as tight security.

According to official figures, while five lakh pilgrims visited the temple during the opening week in the last season, this time the figure is just 1.42 lakh.