Sabarimala protest: Cochin airport services unaffected, says MD

The ongoing protest by BJP activists and Ayyappa devotees following the arrival of gender rights activist Trupti Desai at the Cochin International Airport (CIAL) on Friday has not affected the operations and passengers at the airport, said Managing Director V.J. Kurien. "The airport operations have not been affected. There has been no stopping of passengers by the protesters," Kurien told THE WEEK on Friday. "Trupti is inside the airport and the protesters are outside. There has been no impact on the traffic," he added.

The Cochin International Airport has become the centre stage of the Sabarimala standoff on Friday with protesters leaving no stone unturned to prevent gender equality activist  Desai from leaving the airport to head to Sabarimala. The protesters have gathered in large numbers and are chanting Ayyappa mantras outside the airport. 

When asked what measures were in place in case the protest intensifies, Kurien said: "Let us not be too speculative now. Let us hope that the protest does not get to that point."

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Desai, who made it clear that she has no plans to cancel her visit to Sabarimala, has been asked by the Kerala Police to abort the plan.

With the Lord Ayyappa Temple scheduled to open on Friday evening for the main annual pilgrim season, the Kerala government, Pathanamthitta district officials and law and order personnel are on high alert to prevent the repeat of a showdown that was witnessed in the past one month when the shrine was open for six days in total on two different occasions. Kerala witnessed massive agitations and counter-agitations following a Supreme Court verdict on September 28 allowing women of traditionally 'banned' age group to visit the hilltop shrine.