Thrissur Pooram: Govt awaits HC order on elephant owners’ plea

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The controversy that erupted over the alleged ban on Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran (Raman) from being paraded in Thrissur Pooram remained unresolved even after a discussion with the elephant owners convened by devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran here on Thursday.
A final decision regarding the participation of the jumbo in the festival would be taken after seeking legal opinion by Friday noon, Surendran told reporters after the meeting, which was attended by agriculture minister V S Sunilkumar, too. Both the ministers also reiterated that there was no ban on Ramachandran, but only some ‘technical obstacles’ for parading him, ‘which could be resolved positively’. “The government also needs to consider the high court verdict on parading the elephant, likely to be issued by Friday noon, on the petition filed by elephant owners,” he said.
Revealing that the elephant owners’ actual concerns were regarding forest department guidelines and restrictions on management of captive elephants, Surendran said he has promised a detailed discussion on the matter once the chief minister returns from his foreign tour.
Sunilkumar said the committee headed by Thrissur district collector was yet to take a decision on the application for parading Ramachandran on the eve of Pooram, which was received only on Thursday. “The committee will take an appropriate decision . The government is committed to protect the interests of Thrissur Pooram lovers,” he added.
The representatives of elephant owners led by K B Ganeshkumar, MLA, exuded hope that the problem would be resolved amicably by Friday.