PM Narendra Modi talks like an RSS worker: Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has come down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sabarimala Karma Samithi for trying to mislead the public by citing Sabarimala issue.
Speaking at the Indian Vottu Varthamanam organized by Kesari Memorial Journalists’ Trust here on Sunday, Balakrishnan said the Prime Minister is trying to make an impression that it is the state government which has put curbs on mentioning Sabarimala women’s entry issue during election campaigns.“It is not the state government’s dictum but the rules of the Election Commission. The Prime Minister is talking like an RSS worker. The rule is that political parties should not try to garner votes in the name of God or religion,” Balakrishnan said.
Modi, in his speeches in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, had said that the Kerala government was not allowing people to take the name of Sabarimala in the elections.
Balakrishnan also said that Sabarimala Karma Samithi leader Swami Chidanandapuri is a mere RSS leader in the guise of a saint. “He is a mere RSS worker and spreads venomous communal agenda. These people have neither any devotion for Ayyappa nor any respect for Sabarimala. If they had, they would not have turned Sabarimala to a battlefield,” the CPM state secretary said.
Balakrishnan backed chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan who stood by his earlier remarks against UDF’s Kollam candidate N K Premachandran, who had switched over to UDF from LDF before the last general elections. Vijayan had termed him a stinker during the campaign for 2014 elections, and said that he still stands by this remark. Kodiyeri said the remarks are not personal and he deserves to be called so.
CPM moves EC against PS Sreedharan Pillai
CPM has approached the Election Commission (EC) and police against the communally sensitive remarks made by BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai during his speech about the Balakot air strike.
CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the RSS and the BJP have been trying all kinds of communal ways and the BJP state president’s remarks prove this.
Congress also has decided to approach the EC against Pillai. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said on Sunday that the party would lodge a petition with the EC. “In fact, the commission should suo motu take cognisance of Pillai’s speech. The commission is watching all the speeches and statements being made by the political leaders. Nevertheless, the party will lodge a complaint with the commission,” he said.
Pillai, in his speech at Attingal, had said that people like Congress president Rahul Gandhi and CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury had asked the air force for the number of casualties and religion of those who were killed in the air strike at Balakot.
The Indian Union Muslim League also slammed Pillai for his remarks. IUML leader P K Kunhalikkutty said that BJP is trying to garner votes by nurturing communal agenda, and this will not work in a state like Kerala.
Meanwhile, Pillai said that CPM and Congress are misinterpreting his statements out of fear of losing minority votes. “Instead of being proud of the achievements of soldiers, Congress and CPM are trying to belittle the achievements,” he said.