CHENNAI: Urging supporters and the public to question the glorification of Nathuram Godse and the imposition of ideologies on the food habits of a nation, the Chief Minister of Kerala and Marxist leader Pinarayi Vijayan said that the secular fabric of the country needed to be protected.
Speaking at the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Madras Kerala Samaj here on Sunday, he said allegations against him over the unrest that led to the deaths of members of right wing parties in Kerala, especially in his home district of Kannur, were baseless.
He attended the valedictory function of the Samaj’s platinum jubilee celebrations and the Kerala Vidyalayam golden jubilee celebrations while also inaugurating the EK Nayanar block at the samaj on the Poonamallee High Road.
“The food habits of our country are diverse. What right does a government have to dictate the eating habits of people? This is also being used as an excuse to attack and kill people,” he said, launching a thinly-veiled attack on the BJP and RSS.
He added that the worship of Godse and the ‘wrongs’ that happen in the society like the murders of Narendra Dabholkar, MM Kalburgi and Govind Pansare must not go unnoticed.
Recently, an RSS leader from Madhya Pradesh had announced a `1-crore bounty for Vijayan, a remark that RSS quickly distanced itself from.
In December last year, Vijayan had to cut short his visit to Bhopal after Sangh Parivar members protested against his arrival.
However on Sunday, the Kerala Chief Minister’s programme went on as scheduled without major interruptions, though amidst tight security.
Former Kerala Chief Minister EK Nayanar’s widow KP Saradha Teacher, and G Ramakrishnan, secretary of the CPI (M), Tamil Nadu were present at the event along with office-bearers of the Madras Kerala Samaj and Kerala Vidyalayam.