K. Surendran indulging in negative promotion to counter RSS' popularity: Rakesh Sinha

Taking strong exception to Kerala leader Kadakampally Surendran's remark accusing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of trying to turn temples into "storehouses of arms" in the state, ideologue Rakesh Sinha on Tuesday said the Devaswom Board Minister was doing negative promotion as he was concerned with the growing popularity of the right wing organisation.

"Who is ruling in Kerala? If the RSS is storing arms in temples. the Chief Minister and the Home Minister in Kerala belong to their party.then whom are they blaming? The situation is exact opposite. The political basis of Communist Party Marxist in Kerala is violence and they want to continue their reign in the state with that kind of politics," Sinha told ANI.

Citing the incident where around 300 Swayamsevaks were killed in Kannur, Sinha said the politics of violence can be seen there.

"He is so concerned with the growing popularity of the RSS that he is taking the help of negative promotion. The politics of violence can be seen in Kannur. Around 300 Swayamsevaks were killed in Kannur just because the base of the Communist Party is becoming weaker there," he added.

He said the growth of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala is posing a challenge for the Communist Party.

"This is the reason why the Communist Party is being more concerned than required. I think their condition will be same as what happened in Bengal," he added.

In a Facebook post, the Devaswom Minister said the CPI (M)-led state government had been receiving a large number of complaints of storing of arms and warned of stern action.

"I have been receiving various complaints on the illegal activities conducted by the organisations, including RSS, temples under the Devaswom Board. Under these circumstances, it is necessary to allay the apprehensions in society," he said.

The minister also alleged that the RSS was trying to keep devotees away from the shrines by turning them into "storehouses of arms" and indulging in "arms training".

Stating that temples are the centres of rituals and beliefs, Surendran said the government would not allow anybody to turn places of worship into centres of anti-social activities.

"The government will intervene strongly to end this," he added.