RSS saffronising jails in state: VS Achuthanandan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Veteran leader V.S. Achuthanandan has slammed the “gau matha puja" allegedly held at the Cheemeni open jail in Kasargod in the presence of top officials. In a statement here, Mr Achuthanandan alleged that there was an attempt by RSS to saffronise state jails. He urged the government to take strict action against the superintendent for promoting superstition. He said a person who faced allegations of being “fake swami” had performed the puja aided by RSS affiliated under trials. The visuals and footage of the puja have already come out in the public domain.

Mr Achuthanandan  said that the state has moved forward by putting up an uncompromising fight against superstitions and social evils. At a time when Kerala is in the midst of celebrating the diamond jubilee of its formation, the attempts to bring back superstitious practices and social evils are highly condemnable. “The involvement of jail officials’ is dangerous,” he added. The veteran accused the jail authorities of yielding to the RSS pressure to saffronise jails in the state. He demanded action against jail superintendent and other officials who assisted the “fake” swami to conduct the puja.

Meanwhile, jail officials denied that “gau puja” was performed in the open jail. The Karnataka based swami who rears indigenous cows had donated two cows on February 2 and had promised to give 18 more later, they pointed out . “During the brief handing over ceremony the swami raised slogans "gau matha ki jai" and "swami ji ki jai." He lighted a lamp. This is all that happened in the jail. No idea why a controversy is being created now,” said a senior jail official.  He said the swami was wearing his usual saffron clothes and that might have irked some people.