The Hindu : Front Page : Guptan sees plot behind ‘aravana’ shortage

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 20, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Guptan sees plot behind ‘aravana’ shortage

Special Correspondent

Travancore Devaswom Board president C.K. Guptan

Thiruvananthapuram: President of the Travancore Devaswom Board C.K. Guptan has said that the two members of the board, an Opposition MLA and a former member of the board were responsible for the award of the aravana contract of the Sabarimala temple to Shanawaz.

In a statement here on Wednesday, he said that they created a situation in which there was no other alternative but to award the contract to him even though he was not financially sound enough to handle the work.

He said that he had informed responsible centres of these developments as and when they took place. He was forced to append his signature to the decisions on the issue and the draft of the agreement as it was the only way to ensure the smooth distribution of ‘aravana’ at a time when the pilgrimage season was just two days away. He had to become the scapegoat of a conspiracy planned in advance for the sake of crores of pilgrims.

No training given

Mr.Guptan said that the contractor could not provide training for handling the aravana machine to his staff or make available the materials required for its preparation in a coordinated manner within the short time.

The High Court was kept informed of the developments and it gave directions without any delay as requested by the board for the successful conduct of the pilgrimage. The contractor’s failure was responsible for the shortage of aravana.

It was to overcome it that the High Court entrusted the board with the task of making aravana. The two members had strongly opposed the cancellation of the agreement with Mr. Shanawaz and the take over of aravana making by the board with the High Court’s permission.

The High Court’s Special Commissioner at the Sannidhanam and some officials of the board were aware of it, he added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page