Thiruvananthapuram, 04 Oct (H.S.):

Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan on Sunday condemned CPM leader P. Nandakumar’s alleged remarks against the people of Malappuram, describing them as a challenge to Kerala’s secular values and demanding a public apology from the party.

Satheeshan said Nandakumar had described Malappuram as a “nest of religious fundamentalists and communalists” at a public meeting attended by Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan. Such a statement from a senior leader of a party claiming to represent progressive politics was unacceptable, he said.

The Chief Minister questioned Vijayan’s failure to reject or correct the remarks despite being present on the stage. He alleged that this silence suggested that Vijayan and the CPM shared Nandakumar’s position.

Satheeshan linked the controversy to remarks about Malappuram attributed to Vijayan in an interview with a national newspaper during his tenure as Chief Minister, as well as subsequent statements.

He alleged that the latest comments reflected a longstanding CPM political strategy of keeping members of a particular religious community under suspicion. Despite voters rejecting what he described as the party’s communal campaigns in previous elections, the CPM had failed to change its approach, he said.

Drawing a comparison with the Sangh Parivar, Satheeshan alleged that such statements exposed similarities between its communal politics across the country and the CPM’s conduct in Kerala.

He demanded that Vijayan publicly clarify his position and asked the CPM’s central leadership to state whether it endorsed Nandakumar’s remarks.

“The CPM and P. Nandakumar must publicly apologise to Kerala society,” the Chief Minister said.

Satheeshan also warned that strong legal action would be taken against anyone making communal statements aimed at disturbing peace in the state. He said the government would act against attempts to undermine Kerala’s peaceful social atmosphere, irrespective of who made such remarks or their political affiliation in the state.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman