Date:14/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/14/stories/2007121458160100.htm

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Special steps for ‘aravana’ sale

Staff Reporter

Minister walks out of review meet

G. Sudhakaran alleges hidden agenda to sabotage meet.

PATHANAMTHITTA: A meeting convened by Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran at the Collectorate here on Thursday to review the arrangements at Sabarimala on Thursday decided to supply ‘aravana’ in containers brought by devotees at the Sannidhanam as a special arrangement to tide over the ‘aravana’ crisis.

Addressing the meeting, Mr. Sudhakaran and C.K. Gupthan, Travancore Devaswom Board president, said the new system of ‘aravana’ distribution would come into force from Friday. The sale of packed ‘aravana’ at the Devaswom counters would continue. In a statement issued later, Mr. Gupthan said the Board would open separate counters with electronic weighing machines to sell ‘aravana’ at a rate of Rs.44 for 250 ml.

The Minister suggested opening of ‘aravana’ sales counters at Pampa; but Mr. Gupthan said it required permission from the temple Tantri.

Chaotic beginning

The meeting had a chaotic beginning with the Minister walking out of the venue, abruptly stopping the proceedings following an altercation with the local MLA, K. Sivadasan Nair.

Mr. Sudhakaran reached the Collectorate early and started the meeting at 2 p.m., scheduled time. The issue surfaced when he asked Additional Director General of Police V.R. Rajeevan to present the report on the police arrangements at Sabarimala, after his presidential address claiming that but for the ‘aravana’ crisis everything at Sabarimala was going on well. At this juncture, the MLA intervened and started his address, saying that the people’s representatives should be permitted to present the pilgrims’ woes first, before hearing the officials, which the Minister opposed. Soon Minister stopped the proceedings and left the venue. He said a separate meeting for people’s representatives would be convened later.

The Minister contacted Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan over telephone seeking the arrest of the UDF MLAs for obstructing the meeting. Finally, the Minister agreed to continue the meeting, permitting the MLAs to talk first.