Aikya Vedi for stringent action

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Expressing strong protests over the recurring attacks on Sabarimala pilgrims from Tamil Nadu on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, Hindu Aikya Vedi on Wednesday called for initiating effective measures to prevent further attacks and stringent action against the guilty. Aikyavedi state general secretary Kummanam Rajasekharan, state secretary Brahmachari Bhargava Ram, state treasurer  Aravindakshan Nair and south zone organising secretary Prabhakaran told a news conference that if the government failed to prevent the attacks, Hindu organisations would mobilise people to provide security to the pilgrims.  They said devotees from outside the state would be accorded reception at the borders and in other parts of the state. They said in the last week alone there were 16 attacks on the pilgrims from across the border. Twenty vehicles were attacked and 10 devotees were injured in the incidents. On Monday night alone, seven vehicles were attacked. They said the attacks must have been pre-planned and orchestrated by vested interests.  He said the motive behind the attacks were to create fear among the  pilgrims from across the border and sabotage the pilgrimage itself.  Kummanam pointed out that while the  vehicles carrying vegetables and other goods from Tamil Nadu are being spared and only pilgrims’ vehicles are targeted. ‘’If Mullaperiyar issue  is the real reason behind the attack why do they target the vehicles from Andhra Pradesh and other states?’’ he asked.   Criticising the government’s apathy towards devotees, he asked why Ministers P J Jospeh and K M Mani did not express any concern for Ayyappa devotees while they continued to whip up passions on the Mullaperiyar issue.  ‘’P J Joseph is ready to fast unto death on the Mullaperiyar issue . Will he be ready to observe a fast at least for a day expressing solidarity with the pilgrims?’’ Kummanam asked .Kummanam said that the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala should find an amicable solution to the issue and isolate those who orchestrate violence and trigger communal passions.  Aikya Vedi has also has started a helpline  - 9497545511- to extend help to the pilgrims who are in trouble .