Thiruvananthapuram: CPM has given a complaint to the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his speeches in Theni in Tamil Nadu and Mangaluru in which he invoked Sabarimla and Ayyappa.
A complaint submitted by CPM politburo member Nilotpal Basu alleged that the prime minister had sought to divide people on religious lines while making the statement on Sabairmala. Though the PM didn’t mention Sabarimala during his speech in Kozhikode, he referred to the hill shrine in Theni and Mangaluru the next day.
In the age of internet and social media, the geographical boundaries had no meaning as the speech beomes viral in no time. Significantly, the CPM compliant to EC comes on the eve of Prime Minister’s public meeting in Thiruvananthapuram.
It may be recalled that without referring to Sabarimala, in his Kozhikode speech on April 12 the Prime Minister had stated that the BJP stood with faith and freedom to worship tradition. He said a few people in the name of implementing SC order were trying to harm the faith of the land.
The Prime Minister while addressing rallies in Ramanathapuram, Theni, Mangaluru and Bengaluru on April 13, accused the LDF Government in Kerala of creating a situation where people could not take the name of Lord Ayyappa or Sabarimala.
He alleged that the Congress, Communists and Muslim League in Kerala were playing a ‘dangerous’ game regarding the Sabarimala temple. “They are using brute force to strike at the root of faith and aspiration. Sadly for them till BJP is there, no one will be able to destroy our faith and culture,’’ he said.
The CPM says the remarks made by the prime minster were aimed at creating polarization on religious lines.
“You will be put behind bars for taking the name of Sabarimala. The constituency I visited yesterday, the candidate there was put behind bars for 15 days. He was released on bail yesterday," the Prime Minister said while referring to BJP candidate K. P. Prakash Babu during his speech in Mangaluru.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had hit back at the prime minister accusing him of spreading lies on Sabarimala. He said the LDF government had taken action against the anti -social elements.
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