Thiruvananthapuram: Former TDB president Prayar Gopalakrishnan has threatened to resort to ‘intense protests’ if the state government doesn't take steps to maintain status quo at Sabarimala. Mr Prayar, who represents a collective called Hindu Parliament, wanted the government to file a review petition or maintain status quo until the Supreme Court decides on the petition filed by him.
Mr Prayar, who spoke to reporters here, was asked if this would not be contempt of court. He said that was why they were not immediately resorting to it. Asked when the protests will turn ‘intense,’ he said they were yet to decide on that. They hoped that the dialogues to be held with the TDB and the chief minister would produce results.
Those present at the press meet included Akhilakerala Viswakarmqa Mahasabha secretary Kottakkakom Jayakumar and Hindu Parliament office-bearers Suryanarayana Sharma and C.P. Sugathan. Asked why there no women in the office-bearers’ list, Mr Sugathan said that there were women’s collectives under their banner which had women as leaders. “Moreover, look at who led the Pandalam procession and the ‘Namajapam’ processions. We men were at the back, and the women were leading those,” he said.
Mr Prayar said that so far the protests were peaceful ‘Namajapam’ processions. On Tuesday, these will conclude with a procession in front of the secretariat. On Wednesday, they will organise a ‘Pampa Upavasam’ in which he will be fasting. On Thursday, they will organise a statewide prayer for the health of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
