Kochi: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Monday that the government was designing a full-fledged online booking system to ensure a hassle-free darshan of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala during the main annual pilgrimage season beginning on November 17, but insisted that miscreants will not get a chance to make Sannidhanam their abode and create trouble.
Mr. Vijayan was speaking at a public meeting organised here by the LDF to explain the government's stand on Sabarimala in the wake of the Supreme Court allowing women of all age groups to visit the hill shrine and the agitation launched by the right wing outfits against it. He said the government will implement the Sabarimala master plan to ensure that the devotees get a chance to pray. "Nilakkal will be made the base camp where arrangements will be made for the stay of over 1,000 devotees," he said. The master plan will soon come into effect after the committee assigned to study the plan submits a complete report to the government, he said.
Earlier, the government had formed a committee headed by Mr T.K.A. Nair, former principal secretary to the prime minster, to make a detailed report on the master plan.
"As the temple and its surroundings are congested during the season, a limited number of devotees will be allowed to enter Pampa and then Sannidhanam. The others can stay at the base camp at Nilakkal where more arrangements will be made," he said.
He also stressed that Sabarimala will not be made a place where people can stay indefinitely. "The devotees can take their own time to pray and do the rituals. They will not be forced to leave, but the indefinite stay will not be allowed any more," he said.
"The government is only implementing the apex court's order. We had earlier said that whatever be the verdict, it is our duty to execute it. Even if it was against our ideology, we would have done that. So filing a review petition is not our concern," he said. The government is firm that every devotee should get the darshan smoothly, he said.
Mr. Vijayan pointed out that the police had not arrested any devotee in connection with the unusual incidents that happened at Nilakkal, Pampa and Sannidhanam. The case is against "criminals who mocked at the Supreme Court verdict and unleashed violence," he added.
Mr. Vijayan also criticised BJP chief Amit Shah's comment about 'pulling down the government.' "He might have many wishes and he also would have done that in many places. But this is not the land for such games. We, the successors of Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali and Chattambi Swami, will not allow that," he said.
Among those present at the meeting were Mr Kanam Rajendran, CPI state secretary, Mr P. Rajeev, CPM state secretariat member, Mr C.N. Mohanan, CPI Ernakulam district secretary, Prof M.K. Sanu, Mr Ramachandran Kadannappalli, Minister for Ports and Mr Mathew T. Thomas, Minister for Water Resources .
