Epic Victory to Yuvamorcha agitation against Parking loot of Sabarimala devotees

The series of protests initiated by Yuva Morcha regarding parking fees in Sabarimala has resulted an epic victory. They saw to it that devotees coming to offer their prayers to Lord Ayyappa went ahead with the parking of their vehicles without paying fees of any kind. All this, without any kind of conflict with those who were stationed to collect fees. In short, a peaceful remonstration with the best of results.

Huge amount of corruption were earlier reported in the tender process and allocating the right to collect parking fees to a relative of Congress MP KP Dhanapalan. This Congress MP also has soft corner towards Jihadi terrorist organisation Popular front. It was only after becoming a controversy this MP decided to withdraw from a public meet organised by Popular front who are under intelligence scanner for their anti national activities.

Members of Yuva Morcha went ahead with their plans in a well organized way. Even though they were restricted by police personnel, they mixed freely with the crowd of devotees, under the pretext of being one among the crowd. They thus went ahead with their work, unrestrained.

“We will not allow devotees to be drained out financially like this, during the Manadala season,” said Yuva Morcha President VV Rajesh at a gathering later. The Yuva Morch workers were wholeheartedly supported and lauded for their efforts by BJP general secretary Surendran and other senior leaders. “In the forthcoming days, Yuva Morcha workers will be stationed at various places. They will see that no parking fee is collected,” said Surendran. Others who addressed the gathering are district president of BJP VN Unni, leaders like KP George, Sudheer, Anoj Kumar, Binumon, Sooraj.

Since many people were engaged in making the task a success, the gathering saw a huge attendance of people. At certain places, even though police personnel tried to stop the gathering, They beat a hasty retreat owing to the mass gathering they encountered unexpectedly.  Also, the police were taken aback, seeing the support offered to Yuva Morcha by the devotees. Perhaps they felt it wise to keep away and not interfere in such circumstances.

Earlier in a Press Conference VV Rajesh Yuvamorcha leader has warned about the upcoming agitation if Devaswom is not ready to correct themselves .

He said that unlike in the past the auction for parking was held when there was a single bidder. He alleged corruption to the tune of Rs 11 crore in the fraudulent manner in which the auction was conducted.

He pointed out that it was a violation of rules to collect parking fee from places on which Devaswom Board had no ownership or control.

He said that large-scale cheating of the pilgrims was taking place in the name of parking fee. While the auction was for just Rs 60 lakh, the total collection in a season touches Rs 12 crore, he claimed.  Around 20 lakh vehicles come to Sabarimala a year.  He pointed out that while the parking was auctioned for Rs 1.9 crore last year, in 2012-13 it could fetch only Rs 60 lakh.

He alleged that Sishupalan,  the contractor who won the auction this time, was a close relative of K P Dhanapalan MP. V S Jayakumar, Devaswom Board’s Finance officer, is the brother of Devaswom  Minister V S Sivakumar.  Rajesh said the auction contract was signed at 11 pm. He pointed out that parking fee was being collected from vehicles parked on land of PWD, Revenue, Forest  departments. The Devaswom land was not demarcated at Pampa.

The parking slot has not been levelled so far. There is no facility for providing drinking water, toilet facilities and lighting. As there are no security personnel posted here, incidents of theft  of tyres, horns, lights and diesel occurred under the cover of darkness.

The persons deployed for collecting parking fee had a shady background and they threatened the pilgrims from other states to fleece hefty fee, he alleged.

Rajesh said during the days of heavy pilgrim rush, pilgrims from other states would be made to pay Rs 2000 to Rs 5000 to get their vehicles parked. As police officials collect lakhs of rupees as bribe,  police turn a blind eye to the complaints.

He alleged nexus between Devaswom minister, Devaswom officials, police and  contractors.

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