KOCHI: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said those who came to power after swearing allegiance to the Constitution are now propagating superstitions, ill-practices, myths and fabricated tales. He was speaking after presenting the Yukthivadi M C Joseph Award to litterateur M K Sanu here. Calling for a joint fight against the covert moves to revive casteism as part of the wider goal to establish a theocracy, the Chief Minister said the rationalists should join hands with socio-political movements to rid society of ill-practices and superstition. The rationalists cannot take people into confidence unless their initiative reflects on the socio-political sphere.
“The role of rationalism should not be limited to discussions on the existence of God,” Pinarayi said. “What the Communist movement suggested is rationalism should not be merely an idea, but it should have a socio-political impact.What human beings need is not a foolproof theory to substantiate the non-existence of God, but his daily bread,” he said.
Pinarayi said M C Joseph had the capability to provide logical answers and establish his point of view on questions related to rationalism. “He was one of those who fearlessly fought superstitions and ill- practices of his time. Such bravado energises posterity also,” the CM said.
Dr K S David presided over the function. K V Thomas MP, CPM district chief P Rajeev, GCDA chairman C N Mohanan, Sreeni Pattathanam, P Raghavan and Jacob Laser spoke.