The District Congress Committee will stage a 24-hour satyagraha at the old private bus stand here at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to press various demands put forward by it in connection with the Sabarimala pilgrimage.
According to DCC president Babu George, United Democratic Front convener Benny Behanan will inaugurate the satyagraha.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee working president Kodikunnil Suresh and KPCC campaign committee chairman K. Muraleedharan will address the satyagraha at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. respectively on Tuesday.
Besides Mr. Suresh, K. Sudhakaran, another working president of the KPCC; Anto Antony, MP; and Adoor Prakash, MLA; will take part in the satyagraha.
Mr. George said the DCC would place its demands before the three-member monitoring committee on Sabarimala appointed by the Kerala High Court.
Barricades
The demands included immediate withdrawal of the prohibitory orders at Sabarimala, permission for all vehicles to go up to Pampa as in the previous years and return to Nilackal for parking after dropping the passengers at Pampa, and removal of all barricades that have been preventing the pilgrims from approaching the Maha Kaanicka and the Vavar Nada, Mr. George said.
The DCC chief said the government should remit the fuel bills of the vehicles attached to the Kerala Police and various other government departments for filling fuel at the fuel outlet of the Travancore Devaswom Board at Pampa without any further delay. Similarly, the government should bear the expenses on the food for the police personnel at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam, he said.
Former Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha P.J. Kurien will inaugurate the valedictory meet on Wednesday.
