Prakash Karat slams BJP for bid to appropriate Guru’s legacy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM politburo member Prakash Karat on Monday slammed the BJP and Sangh Parivar for their bid to appropriate the legacy of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.

At a seminar against communalism held here,  he said that Sree Narayana Guru’s teaching was about  “one caste, one religion and one God.” The communal forces which believe in the supremacy of their religion can never accept the Guru's teachings, he added.

Apart from Sree Narayana Guru, the Sangh Parivar was trying to appropriate Dr B.R. Ambedkar. 

“Ambedkar had categorically stated that the source of all evils which we have in Hindu system was Manu Smriti. He had given a call to burn Manu Smriti to annihilate caste,” he said.

The CPM politburo member flayed the attempts made by the BJP government at the centre to reshape institutions during its 16-month  rule.

“RSS or pro- RSS persons are being appointed in key higher education, cultural and research institutions.  Efforts are going on to change the entire curricula with HRD ministry being advised by a core group of RSS people,” he said.

Mr Karat said the BJP was trying to enforce insidious Hindutva values. The governments in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana have already imposed a ban on meat for specified days.

Recently, the IIT Delhi authorities issued a directive to serve only vegetarian food in students’ hostels. He  said the link between the BJP and RSS was not understood even by leading commentators, people who are supposed to be political observers.  

Mr Karat said the democratically elected government was being controlled by an organisation which does not have to be accountable to  the people or  Parliament.