Idukki: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has justified the government stand against allegations on the difficulties faced by the pilgrims due to no necessary facilities at Sabarimala. The Chief Minister maintained that nothing out of the ordinary has happened and the rush was normal. While meeting the media in Thekkady, the Chief Minister said that several meetings were held under the leadership of the Devaswom Minister to assess the preparations and careful analysis and action had been taken. Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan’s response to the incident was that the crisis at Sabarimala is natural. He asked sarcastically why so many pilgrims were coming together in Sabarimala.
CM said, “An attempt is being made to scare the pilgrims. An attempt is being made to defame Kerala. It is said that the necessary things are not being done on the Sabarimala issue. An attempt is being made to create panic among the pilgrims by making such baseless allegations. Don’t use the pilgrimage season to manipulate us. The propaganda that there was no planning and preparation on the part of the government is wrong. A coordinated system has been proposed.
Meetings were held in advance. Several meetings were held under the leadership of the Devaswom Minister to assess the preparations. Preparations for Sabarimala started months ago. It has always been done that way. Necessary policemen have been deputed. The queue is well organized and it is going on without any complaint. The rush is natural and there is no need to worry about the pilgrimage,” said the Chief Minister.
It has been a pathetic sight to watch the overcrowded buses to Pampa with Pilgrims to Sabarimala. The plight of the pilgrims who had to wait in long queues without food and water was reported earlier. Lack of proper rest centres and washrooms were also informed to the authorities. High Court also intervened ordering safety and convenient pilgrimage to Sabarimala pilgrims. Inter-state pilgrims agitated with lack of proper facilities this time in Sabarimala raised slogans against Kerala CM. But the Kerala government and the CM is adamant with their stand and are taking this sensitive issue as just an ordinary one.
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