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Key Points

Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar has strongly criticized Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's upcoming Global Ayyappa Summit. He called it a political drama designed to secure Hindu votes ahead of elections. Chandrasekhar questioned why an atheist chief minister would lead a religious event and criticized the invitation to Tamil Nadu CM Stalin. The opposition Congress has also accused the ruling CPI(M) of using the religious event for political appeasement.

Key Points: Rajeev Chandrasekhar Slams Vijayans Global Ayyappa Summit as Political Drama

  • BJP president questions atheist CM Vijayan's role in religious summit
  • Chandrasekhar highlights his 18 pilgrimages to counter CM's criticism
  • Opposition accuses CPI(M) of appeasing majority community sentiments
  • Stalin declines invite but sends Tamil Nadu ministers as representatives
2 min read

Political drama by CM Vijayan: Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Global Ayyappa Summit

Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar calls CM Vijayan's Global Ayyappa Summit a political stunt, questions atheist CM's role and Stalin's invitation to Hindu event.

"The very Stalin who once called Hinduism a virus, and a Chief Minister who betrayed the devotees, should not be present there - Rajeev Chandrasekhar"

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 28

Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday termed the upcoming Global Ayyappa Summit a political drama by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The Global Ayyappa Summit, scheduled for September 20, to be held on the banks of the sacred Pampa River near Sabarimala, is part of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).

CM Vijayan will inaugurate the event, conceived as one of the largest spiritual congregations in South India.

On Thursday, the CM took potshots at the state BJP president and said he knew nothing about Kerala.

Chandrasekhar, however, retorted, saying, “I have never claimed to be a political scholar. I have climbed the sacred eighteen steps at Sabarimala 18 times. I have sufficient knowledge about Sabarimala. Unlike the Chief Minister, I have no desire to become a ‘scholar’ by reading Karl Marx."

The state BJP chief then questioned why Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was invited to the event and asked if the event was being organised merely to secure Hindu votes.

“The very Stalin who once called Hinduism a virus, and a Chief Minister (Vijayan) who betrayed the devotees, should not be present there,” he said.

“If it is not a government function, why is the Chief Minister speaking? Shouldn’t it be the Devaswom Board Chairman addressing it? The CM is an atheist - who will believe him when he talks about worship? Can an atheist Chief Minister conduct such a programme? Would he invite someone who insulted the Muslim community to a Muslim religious function?” asked Chandrasekhar.

He further asserted that “intimidation politics” was not the BJP’s way, adding that he had no interest in becoming a “Das Kapital intellectual” like the Chief Minister.

Incidentally, with the BJP opposing the upcoming event, the Leader of Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, has already accused the ruling CPI(M) of organising the event to appease majority community sentiments.

Kerala Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan formally extended invitations to political leaders, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, during a visit to Chennai.

Stalin later conveyed his inability to attend due to prior commitments, and has deputed his cabinet colleagues P.K. Sekarbabu and Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, who will represent the state government.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Chandrasekhar makes a valid point - why is an atheist CM inaugurating a religious event? This does feel like political opportunism. At least he's been a devotee himself.
A
Arjun K
Both sides are playing politics with religion. BJP opposing, CPI(M) organizing - both want Hindu votes. Meanwhile, actual devotees just want peaceful darshan without this drama.
S
Sarah B
As someone who visited Sabarimala last year, the spiritual atmosphere was incredible. It's sad to see politicians turning something so sacred into a political battleground. Can't they leave religion out of politics for once?
M
Meera T
The Karl Marx reference was unnecessary. Religious events should be about unity, not about scoring political points against each other. Ayyappa devotees deserve better than this.
V
Vikram M
Inviting Stalin was a smart move for Kerala-Tamil Nadu relations, but the timing feels political. Still, inter-state harmony is important for Sabarimala pilgrims from both states.

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