ADGP Ajith Kumar not allowed to attend Sabarimala review meeting; directive from chief minister's office to stay away

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ADGP MR Ajith Kumar, who is in charge of law and order, was not invited to the review meeting of sabarimala mandala-makaravilakku mahotsava preparations chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The chief minister's office intervened and asked him to stay away.

Ajith Kumar is currently holding the charge of Sabarimala co-ordinator. The chief minister's office had excluded Ajith Kumar from the meeting in the wake of PV Anvar's controversial remarks and subsequent investigations. Instead of the ADGP, it was DGP Sheikh Darvesh Sahib who explained the police's affairs in the meeting.

Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan, Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan, ADGPs Manoj Abraham and S Sreejith, Devaswom Special Secretary TV Anupama, Pathanamthitta District Collector S Prem Krishnan, Devaswom Board President PS Prasanth and other related officials attended the meeting.

It has been decided to allow only online booking in Sabarimala this time and to provide darshan facility to a maximum of 80,000 people in a day. The opportunity to choose the mode of travel will be provided at the time of virtual queue booking itself. This way, pilgrims will be able to choose a less crowded route. Necessary facilities will be provided to the devotees on the kanana patha. If vehicles have to be regulated during peak hours, the centres will be identified and necessary infrastructure will be provided. More parking facilities are being arranged at Nilakkal and Erumeli.

The work of roads and parking grounds leading to Sabarimala will be completed soon. Health check-ups will be conducted for Vishudhi sena members and necessary training will be ensured. The maintenance work of Pranavam Guest House has been completed. The meeting also decided that the maintenance work of the sabari guest house will be completed by the 31st of this month.