PATHANAMTHITTA: BJP state president V Muralidharan has opposed the move to bring 148 sq km of forest covering the holy place of Ponnambalamedu under the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry.
Addressing a news conference here on Monday, V Muralidharan said that the directive to bring the forest area comprising Ponnambalamedu by the National Periyar Conservation Authority under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest would hurt the sentiments of crores of Sabarimala pilgrims.
Muralidharan said that the move by the vested interests to bring the additional forest area of 148 sq km under the PTR would be with the hidden agenda of sabotaging the Sabarimala pilgrimage.
The directive came at a time when the BJP and the Parlimentary Accounts Committee sought the delinking of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple and the trekking path between Pampa and Sannidhanam from the PTR, Muralidharan said.
Cong urged to clarify stand on Sabari Rail
Muralidharan said that the Congress should clear the doubts in the minds of the people of the state about the reported diversion of funds allotted for the Sabari Rail to Tamil Nadu railway development.
The BJP leader said that reliable sources revealed that a large chunk of the budgetary allocation for Sabari Rail was diverted to fund the railway projects in Tamil Nadu. Hence, the Congress should clarify on this, he said.
The BJP leader said that the LDF and the UDF failed to undertake any worthwhile projects for providing basic facilities for the Sabarimala pilgrims. On the lottery issue, the Congress should make public the reason for the delay in ordering a CBI probe into the issue, Muralidharan said. The people are doubtful about the credibility of both the UDF and the LDF in bringing out the truth behind the lottery mafia.
In the palmolein case, both Fronts are playing dirty games and involved in cover-ups, he said. BJP state general secretary K P Sreesan, spokesman George Kurian, district president V N Unni and general secretary V A Suraj were present at th conference.
