Thiruvananthapuram, 16 July (H.S.):

CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby on Thursday denied reports that he had criticised Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan over the latter's recent visit to the Kollur Mookambika Temple, saying the reports were factually incorrect and based on remarks he had never made.

Addressing the controversy, Baby questioned the basis on which the Chief Minister had responded to the alleged criticism. He said Satheesan should not have reacted to statements attributed to him without verifying whether they had actually been made.

Baby clarified that neither he nor the CPI(M) had objected to anyone visiting places of worship. He said many of his own friends regularly visit the Mookambika Temple and stressed that the party has never criticised individuals for practising their personal faith.

The CPI(M) has never opposed people visiting temples, churches or mosques. Communists do not criticise anyone for offering prayers or following their religious beliefs, he said, dismissing reports suggesting otherwise.

The clarification comes a day after Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan defended his visit to the famous temple in Karnataka following criticism from certain quarters.

The Chief Minister had maintained that visiting the Mookambika Temple was entirely a matter of personal faith and a right guaranteed under the Constitution. He said he had been a devotee of Goddess Mookambika for the past 37 years and had visited the temple regularly during that period.

Satheesan also rejected attempts to portray him as a leader espousing 'soft Hindutva' because of his temple visit. He said such labels were unfair and ignored the fact that faith was a deeply personal matter.

The Chief Minister further observed that the overwhelming majority of people in the country visit temples, churches or mosques according to their beliefs. Criticising someone for visiting a place of worship, he said, amounted to insulting the faith and practices of countless ordinary citizens.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman