‘Kreupasanam promoting superstitions’

Alappuzha: The Kreupasanam Relig-io-Socio-Cultural Centre at Kalavoor here has been allegedly promoting black magic and superstitions.

The Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishath (KSSP) has filed a complaint with the district magistrate and district police chief against the centre.

The Kreupasanam Marian Retreat Centre and Socio-Cultural Centre was established in 1989 under the leadership of Dr. Fr. V.P. Joseph Valiyaveettil for the development of individual and society with religio-socio-cultural movement.

The petition explains the violations of law by the centre that promotes miracles for success in life and cure through faith. The centre had received `25 lakh government grant to promote the heritage of Chavittuna-takam. It used to publish advertisements and propaganda relating to miracles at the centre in the tabloid titled ‘Kreupas-anam,’ violating the Drug and Magic Remedies (Objectionable and Advertisement) Act, the petition said.

The propaganda papers were widely circulated through bus stops, railway stations, hospitals and other public places to attract the people. Hundr-eds of suffering people were being cheated, the complaint said.

The KSSP has also demanded a probe into the mysterious incidents taking place at Kalavoor and adjacent areas in recent times. “The copies of the tabloid have to be confiscated. The circulation of the illegal publication, which creates social aberration, should be banned,”it said.

According to Gopakum-ar Mukundan, a KSSP act-ivist, no centre has the le-gal right to promote supe-rstition. This centre was promoted by the government to conserve the heritage of Chavittunat-akam. However, it has ended up in social aberration and a probe is needed into its activities, he said.

Author K. Saradakutty, who wrote against the activities at Kreupasanam on the social media, said she took up the matter after a visit to the centre the other day. “I spoke to scores of people in and around the centre. I could not sleep for a couple of days due to the revelation of local people on the centre. So I decided to respond against the social menace. The authorities should take immediate action to protect society from the aberration. Only effective awareness can bring change in society,” she said.

She also said that an anti-superstition law mooted by the state police in 2014 was never passed by Assembly.  Director Fr. Joseph was not available for comments.