SABARIMALA: Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, after a review meeting of the Travancore Devaswom Board on Saturday at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam, told the media that there is no inadequacies in the basic facilities at Sabarimala.

Leaders of Opposition Ramesh had blamed the Devaswom board and government for lack of toilet facilities, availability of drinking water in Sabarimala. “I spoke to the devotees coming from various parts of south India, including elderly people and young children and not a single devotee has made any complaint about Sabarimala this pilgrimage season,” said the minister.

Surendran said that he would like to invite Chennithala to come and visit the Sabarimala temple along with him and understand the situation there.

“The state government and the Devaswom Board are doing everything possible to help the devotees,” said Surendran.

At Nilakkal, arrangements have been made for 9000 devotees to spread their sheet on the floor to take rest. 1200 toilets are also ready to use.

Even if one lakh devotees arrive, they will have all facilities. The Opposition is stalling the Assembly without understanding this fact. Police imposed restrictions only because of the tension created during Chithira Attam.

“I don’t think there was any hardships to those who arrived for darshan. The attacks of organisation including RSS have affected the inflow of devotees. It has been an agenda of the BJP to take over temples after reducing their income. We shall also clear the misunderstanding of NSS over Sabarimala issue. The government has no intension to bring women to Sabarimala but we have to abide by the Supreme Court order. Barricades at Vavaru Nada will be removed after convincing the district administration, he said.

Devaswom board president A Padmakumar and Member K P Shankardas were present.