CPI-M slammed in Kerala over irreverence to Sree Narayana Guru

The CPI-M's Kerala unit has landed in a controversy after a float showed social reformer Sree Narayana Guru being crucified by Hindu fundamentalists.

The float was taken out in Kannur district as part of the 'Balagokulam' event, which the state Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) unit described as the conclusion of the Onam celebrations on Saturday.

The CPI-M had come under attack in the social media that the party had celebrated Krishna Jayanti.

CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was quick to call a press conference on Sunday to explain that they never celebrated Krishna Jayanti but instead it was the concluding festivities of Onam.

When things appeared to have cooled down, TV channels on Monday showed visuals on the float on Sree Narayana Guru.

The float showing Sree Narayana Guru being crucified by Hindu fundamentalists was slammed by Velapally Natesan, general secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Sangom.

The Bharatiya Janata Party also condemned the act.

On Tuesday, a special executive meeting of the Congress passed a resolution saying the act was the worst in the history of the CPI-M.

To soothe tempers, the CPI-M national leadership on Tuesday expressed regret over the incident and asked party cadres to see that they are more careful in future and such things do not happen.

Meanwhile, another row erupted when a statue of Sree Narayana Guru was found broken in Tellichery in Kannur district on Tuesday morning. The BJP and the CPI-M leaders blamed each other for it.