The Kerala government has decided to deploy more than 5,000 policemen in the forthcoming Mandala season next month, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan while addressing a meeting in Kollam. He said the government will impose restrictions for mandala season to restrict inflow of pilgrims to the temple.
The government also plans to introduce online booking for entry and won’t allow devotees to stay back in Sannidhanam for more than 24 hours. Guest rooms will be given only for a day. The Chief Minister has taken up young women’s entry as a ‘prestige issue’ and wants to make it happen by all means.
Every year five crore devotees visit Sabarimala in the mandala season. With these restrictions, the number of devotees coming to the temple will be reduced. Besides, the government plans to appoint CPM cadres for security duty on a temporary basis, thereby making Sabarimala a fortress. “There is a sinister move to destroy Sabarimala. In the guise of the SC order, he is throwing an open challenge to devotees. Last time his plans were foiled, thanks to strict resistance from devotees,” said Prithvipal of Sabarimala Achara Samrakshana Samithi.
On Tuesday, addressing a public meeting, the Chief Minister said Thantri (chief priest)’s forefathers have come from Andhra Pradesh and if the chief priest loses his job what will he do? He said Travancore Devaswom Board is the final authority on temple traditions, which is far removed from reality. He was angry over the threat made by Thantri that he would shut the temple if women activists were taken inside the sanctum santorum. He also came down heavily on Pandalam royals who had said they could ask thanthri to shut the temple in case of traditions being violated.
The chief minister’s moronic statements have evoked strong reactions from all sections of the society. Sasikumara Varma, representative of the Pandalam King, snubbed the chief minister and said the chief minister was making baseless claims. “Pandalam palace’s ties with Sabarimala don’t change every five years.” He said if the government wants money, they could take it. But on the issue of traditions and rituals to be followed at the temple, Pandalam royals and thanthri are the final word.
There are reports that CPM recruits their cadres as temporary employees for Sabarimala duties. Hundreds of applications are piling up in various police stations for police certificates necessary for the appointment. Once they are appointed they will have access to each and every nook and corner of temple complex and premises. The idea is to physically attack the devotees who observe peaceful namajapayatra to stop the women of ages between 10 and 50 from entering the temple and violate traditions. It is a blatant CPM attempt to cause bloodbath in the temple premises.
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