Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sought the cooperation of all sections for the smooth conduct of the Mandalam and Makaravilakku festivals in Sabarimala.
Sabarimala is a pilgrim centre where lakhs of pilgrims converge and arrangements had been made for them to have a comfortable darshan, Mr. Vijayan said in a statement here on Friday. Being a pilgrim centre frequented by people from other States, any untoward incident occurring there would incur bad reputation to the State and also to the temple, he said.
The incidents that took place in Sabarimala when the temple was opened for monthly pujas last month and for a day on November 6 should never had happened at all. Those who gave leadership to such incidents had confessed it through the media. This reminded the government and the people of the amount of caution needed there, he said.
Sabarimala should not be made a venue for protests and rebellion. Some might be planning to create tension in Sabarimala and create unrest all over the State. The people of Kerala should not get ensnared in such attempts, he said.
Media should be cautious against spreading information that would divide and create anxiety among the people. There were attempts to emanate fake news through the social media. Such campaign should be carefully monitored and be brought to the notice of the persons concerned, he said.
The State overcame the damage wreaked by the flood through sheer unity. The same unity should prevail in overcoming such challenges too, he said.
People of different faith should have the freedom to profess it and others should have the liberty to live according to their will. This mutual respect among the theists and atheists was the foundation of secularism in the State. The State government was trying to protect it by sticking to the values upheld by the Constitution, he said.
He sought the cooperation of the people with the security arrangements in Sabarimala that was put in place for ensuring a peaceful darshan.