Congress MLA urges CM Vijayan to call all-party meeting on Sabarimala

Congress leader and MLA K Muraleedharan Saturday asked Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to convene an all-party meeting before the Mandala- Makaravilikku pilgrimage season at Sabarimala, beginning November 17, to sort out 'infrastructure bottlenecks.'

He alleged that even basic infrastructure like toilets and drinking water for pilgrims were yet to be readied at Sabarimala.

"Though the pilgrim season is just a week away, basic amenities such as drinking water and toilets for thousands of of pilgrims who are expected to visit the place are yet to be arranged.

The Chief Minister must shed his arrogance and call an all-party meeting," he said at a press meet here.

Lakhs of pilgrims from the country and abroad visit the Lord Ayyappa Temple every year during the annual Mandala-Makaravilikku pilgrimage season every year.

The Congress MLA also sought a judicial probe into the death of a man who was pushed in front of a moving car, allegedly by a police official.

He said the Chief Minister was yet to visit the grieving family of Sanal.

32-year-old Sanal was killed after being pushed in front of a moving car, allegedly by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) (Neyyatinkara) B Harikumar at Neyyatinkara near here.

Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor also demanded Rs 50 lakh compensation and a government job for Sanal's widow.