Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Sep 25: T B Shekhar, national president, Shabarimale Ayyappa Seva Samajam (SASS) here, speaking at a press meet held at Hotel Karthik, Ambalpady here on Tuesday September 24 mentioned that the activists of SASS have been facing around 3,200 cases on various charges. "These cases are before the courts now. SASS has about 80,000 members all over the nation, out of which, 7,000 members are in Karnataka," he explained.

It is serving 70 tribal children at Shabari Sharanashrama School at Pernadu, Kerala. SASS is functional in 14 spots in the state.

A Rath Yatra for promoting Hindutva has been already launched from eight different destinations of Tamil Nadu and four chariots have been moving from Kerala to create awareness on Hindutva and its propagation. The campaigns are also being conducted in Puducherry, Chennai, Rameshwaram, Krishnagiri and other places, he stated.

The Samajam has been working to ban plastic and had conducted a drive in 2011 in this regard. It succeeded in stopping daylight robbery happening in the parking place at Sabarimala, he added.

SASS also is planning to organize Guruswami convention in Karnataka in February 2020. As many as one lac Guruswamis are in Karnataka. Those who have completed 18 years and 41 days of Vrutha, are considered as Guruswamis, he explained.

T B Shekhar, in response to a query on the issue of women's entry into Sabarimala shrine said, "Now the heat of this issue will hit Kerala government hard. We are awaiting the final verdict of the Supreme Court. We hope that the court will give a favourable verdict."

Women aged between 10 to 50 years are not allowed into Sabarimala shrine. No untoward incident has happened in the Shabarimala temple till now, he stated.

Shekhar further said, "SASS is now working on green, clean, pure Shabarimala and has been conducting many activities in this direction."

It is also working for providing drinking water, teaching yoga, serving Annadana, organizing health check up camps and protecting religion, said Shekhar.

Shivaram Swamy, honorary president, M Rojashanmugam, president, V Krishnappa, S N Krishnayya, secretary, Erode N Rajan, general secretary, Radhakrishna Mendon, Prakash and others were present.