Portraying Guru on cross was a mistake: Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

KANNUR: CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said on Monday that the float by a group during a rally organised by Balasangham portraying the crucifixion of Sree Narayana Guru was a mistake. 

Addressing reporters here, Mr Kodiyeri said that though well intentioned, it was misleading and it provided chance for communal forces to create confusion among the followers of Guru.

In future, while portraying such renaissance leaders as well as social reformers, the organisers should be more cautious, Mr Balakrishnan said. However Kodiyeri justified the theme of the float which exposed the covert agenda of communal forces.

He also lashed out at the communal elements for fanning passions in the name of Guru who has been a symbol of peace and amity. “Fascist forces have been trying to fan emotions in the name of spiritual leaders,” he said.

VS slams BJP for ulterior campaign
Opposition leader V. S. Achuthanandan on Monday accused the RSS-BJP of unleashing a false campaign against the party to hide its heinous act of vandalising the statue of Sreenarayana Guru in Thalassery.

In a statement at the state capital, Achuthanandan said the BJP was accusing the CPM of degrading Sree Narayana Guru. But it was the Communist party which held high the Guru's philosophy to lead Kerala society and provide a platform to the backward sections and deprived sections of the state.

Even today, the CPM is mobilising people and organising activities to improve the social life and the entire Kerala society was aware of it.

He said it was for this reason that CPM opposed tooth and nail the attempts made by elite SNDP leadership to surrender the Guru’s philosophy before Sangh Parivar. 

The present campaign to brand CPM anti-Guru is with an ulterior motive. Mr Achuthanandan said at the Balasanghom cultural procession in Kannur, there was a depiction to highlight how Sangh Parivar with the backing of elite SNDP leadership was trying to do away with Sree Narayana Guru's teachings.

It should have been viewed in that context. But he admitted that it was wrong to depict the Guru who was the top leader of the social reform movement in that way.

The party would certainly look into the circumstances under which such a depiction was made which had caused hurt to Sreenarayana Guru’s followers, he said.