Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Dec 3: A team of four leaders formed by BJP national president, Amit Shah, to collect detailed information on the prevailing situation at Sabarimala and details of police atrocities if any, reached Sabarimala on Sunday December 2.

The team has party leaders, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Prahlad Joshi, Vinod Sonkar and Saroj Pandey as its members. The team has already begun its work by meeting devotees, party activists and others. The team has been asked to put together details of the current situation and file a report with Amit Shah within 15 days.

Nalin Kumar Kateel - member of team

In the meanwhile, Travancore Devasvam Board is contemplating to use film stars and other celebrities in a bid to feature them in its advertisements towards attracting flow of devotees to Sabarimala. It plans to utilize the popularity of the celebrities to increase visit of devotees to Sabarimala. An official said that a final decision on this issue would be taken on December 3.

After the Supreme Court verdict on the controversial issue of visit to Lord Ayyappa shrine here by women devotees of all age groups was delivered, there has been a significant decline in the number of visitors to Sabarimala, the official said. In particular, there has been a steep fall in devotees coming in from neighbouring states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, he added.

In the meantime, a three-member committee appointed by Kerala high court o examine the allegation that the basic facilities which have been provided around the shrine at Sabarimala are inadequate, would be undertaking study visit there on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, the team will undertake scrutiny at Pampa and Nilakkal, while it will concentrate around the shrine on Tuesday. It will verify the facilities made available and instruct Travancore Devasvam Board suitably if it finds that the facilities are inadequate.