THRISSUR: Elephant owners’ has threatened not to parade their elephants for any festival in protest against the ban on tusker Thechikottukavu Ramachandran for Thrissur Pooram. The decision was taken by Kerala Elephant Owners Federation. They decided not to parade their elephants for any public function including Thrissur Pooram starting May 11.

The federation representatives alleged that the government sabotaged the decision of the cabinet and even the doctors were threatened without giving certificate for the elephant and this is a conspiracy of the forest department officials. The forest minister is supporting this and there is a conspiracy behind it. The federation in a press meet convened asked the minister to clarify it.

The festival is a celebration of the place. An elephant is not a source of income only for the owners and boycott will continue till the ban on the tusker is withdrawn, the federation said.