The Hindu : Government apathy alleged

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 28, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Government apathy alleged

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA, MARCH 27. The Hindu Aikya Vedi has alleged that the Government is indifferent towards providing even the basic pilgrim facilities at Sabarimala and not to speak of the development of various other Hindu temples in the State.

Addressing a press conference here today, the Vedi district leaders, K. Haridas, V.R. Shaji and K.P.Anilkumar, alleged that the Government had always taken a negligent attitude towards Sabarimala. The acute water scarcity and the postponement of the Sahasrakalasam ritual at the Ayyappa Temple for want of water last month were a sad testimony to the Government's indifference, they said.

According to Mr. Haridas, it was first time in the history of the Ayyappa Temple an important ritual could not be held owing to the inability of the Government to provide water to the holy hillock.

Similarly, the officials were apathetic towards the Temple Advisory Committee's plea to take stern action against those who had taken out a funeral procession through the property attached to the Thiruvalla Sree Vallabha Temple, they alleged.

They said that the district unit had planned a Sakti Sangamam as part of the Marad campaign in Pathanamthitta on April 7. A massive rally in which not less than 25,000 people would take part would be held on the day.

Mr. Haridas said that by backtracking from its `Marad pact' and by not ordering a CBI inquiry into the Marad massacre, the Government had literally deceived the Hindus in the State.

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