Vijayan vows probe into Thrissur Pooram fiasco
KASARAGOD: Reacting for the first time to the controversies surrounding Kerala’s prestigious festival Thrissur Pooram, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday said that state government would initiate a serious investigation into the complaints raised by temple managements and members of the public regarding the disruption of the event on its last day.
The restrictions imposed by the police based on directions of the High Court led to total confusion and chaos that took the sheen out of the famed festival that attracts tourists and locals every year.
Chief minister said the government machineries had limitations for interfering during election time, but promised an inquiry by the DGP.
“It should be seriously probed what had happened on the Pooram day. A complaint sent by the Devaswom authorities is there...the Director General of Police (DGP) has been directed to carry out a probe into the incidents and submit a report,” Vijayan said while addressing a press meet here on Sunday.
He also promised necessary action after the investigation.
Vijayan said the government and the temple managements had a cordial relationship and they had even requested him to attend the Pooram festivities on Friday but he could not attend due to election campaigning schedules.
Thousandsofpooramenthusiastsandonlookers witnessed the rituals and parade of pachyderms on the sprawling grounds of the famed Vadakkunnathan Temple, braving sweltering heat. Soon after police swung into action by barricading people and imposing restrictions on rituals including fireworks display, temple managements withdrew from the function.
For the first time in the history of the festival, the display of fireworks, one of the major attractions of the event, which was scheduled in the wee hours, was held in broad daylight on Saturday, which turned out to be a disappointment for the festival lovers.
Thiruvambady Devaswom stopped the ceremonies abruptly protesting the “unwanted restrictions by the police.”
After the ceremonies were stopped abruptly, parliamentary candidates Suresh Gopi and Sunil Kumar rushed to Thiruvambady Devaswom’s office and held discussions with the committee members.
Revenue Minister K Rajan and District Collector VR Krishna Teja intervened and urged the Devaswom to complete the ceremonies. Later, fireworks display was carried out around 6.45am.
“Police used barricades wherever possible and restricted easy movement of the people, dampening the spirit of Thrissur Pooram,” said Thiruvambadydevaswompresidentsundarmenon.