Mangalore, Nov 26: Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik has urged the Karnataka state government to provide a grant of Rs 5,000 each to Ayyappa devotees from Karnataka who undertake the annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala in Kerala, and also provide grants to set up Ayyappa Bhavan in each district for the benefit of those devotees.
Speaking to mediapersons at a press conference here on Tuesday, he said that Hajj pilgrims were provided with financial assistance upto Rs 42,000 each from the Centre and the state government for their pilgrimage. The state government is also setting up a Hajj Bhavan for Hajj pilgrims in Bangalore at an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore. However, as many as 10 lakh devotees of Ayyappan from Karnataka undertake the annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala without adequate facilities. Hence, the state government should provide the devotees with financial assistance and also set up an Ayyappa Bhavan in each district with sufficient facilities, he urged.
‘Set up Anti-Terrorist Squad in coastal region'
Stating that the coastal region was on the verge of turning into a terrorism hub, the SRS chief demanded that an Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) should be formed in the region.
The state government should take note of increasing terror links to coastal towns such as Bhatkal, Mangalore and Udupi and take appropriate action in this regard. It has been reported that raw materials in the explosives that were used in bomb blasts in cities such as Jaipur, Delhi, Bangalore and Pune were traced to Mangalore. The government should set up an ATS unit to prevent further terrorist activities, he said, adding that the Sene would organise a state-wide awareness campaign in order to spread awareness on the attitude of the state government towards prevention of terrorism in the state.
‘Release reformed prisoners in jails'
Urging the state government to release reformed prisoners languishing in jails from several years, Pramod Muthalik said that as many as 900 prisoners were languishing in jails, some of whom were suffering from life-threatening diseases. Not a single reformed prisoner has been released from 2006 till date on humanitarian grounds. The state government should take notice and release a few reformed prisoners at least this time on January 26, he said.
He said that the state unit of Sri Rama Sene would present their demands before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister K J George during the assembly in Belgaum on December 4.
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