In a sharp critique, Member of Parliament K.C. Venugopal expressed strong disapproval of the Kerala State government, highlighting the irony of their decision to organize the Global Ayyappa Sangamam. He argued that it’s hypocritical for a government to host such an event when it has allegedly failed to safeguard the precious gold offerings at the revered Sabarimala temple.
Addressing reporters in Alappuzha, Venugopal labeled the proposed Sangamam as pure hypocrisy. He reminded everyone of the past controversies, stating that “It was they who violated traditions, turned Sabarimala into a battlefield, and caused pain to devotees. History makes that clear.” He sees the timing of this event, just before local body elections, as a cynical political maneuver rather than a genuine show of devotion to Lord Ayyappa and his followers.
The Congress stalwart further accused both the government and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) of misrepresenting facts to the Kerala High Court regarding the Sangamam. He claimed they present one narrative in court while acting contrarily outside, noting that despite initially attributing the event to the TDB, the government is actively managing invitations and funding the entire program. Venugopal sternly advised them to prioritize locating the missing Sabarimala gold before engaging in such grand initiatives.
Shifting focus, Venugopal also pressed for the establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Alappuzha district, Kerala. He emphasized that the BJP-led Union government is responsible for this critical announcement, lamenting that Kerala remains the only state without an an AIIMS despite repeated assurances in Parliament. He termed this delay as pure neglect, particularly for Alappuzha, a region grappling with various health challenges, including prevalent water-borne diseases, and thus in dire need of state-of-the-art healthcare. He called upon the Union government to honor its previous commitment to sanction an AIIMS for Alappuzha if the state formally requests it.
The Alappuzha MP confirmed that he has already communicated with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, providing details of three government-owned land parcels deemed ideal for the AIIMS project, assuring that these locations would present “no other hurdles.”