The statement of the Union Minister of State for Tourism, Mahesh Sharma, that the Centre has decided not to declare Sabarimala a national pilgrim centre has disappointed the people of Kerala, Jerry Easow Oommen, Kerala Congress district president, has said.
In a statement here on Tuesday, Mr. Oommen alleged that the Centre’s stand on Sabarimala was not at all justifiable. He said the people of Kerala had been for long seeking effective intervention of the Union government to provide adequate pilgrim facility at Sabarimala and to declare it a national pilgrim centre.
The Kerala Congress had organised an all-party meeting in Pathanamthitta a year ago demanding a national pilgrim centre status for Sabarimala, he said. Mr. Oommen said the Centre should review the present stand and accord a national pilgrim centre status to Sabarimala with out any delay.
