We didn't celebrate Krishna Jayanthi: CPI-M

Rejecting all speculation in the social media, the CPI-M on Sunday denied that it had celebrated Krishna Jayanthi on Saturday.

"The CPI-M did not celebrate Krishna Jayanthi, instead the celebrations at Kannur was the concluding ceremony of the Onam festival," the party's state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters here on Sunday.

The social media had many reports on Saturday's celebrations -- termed 'Balasanghom' by the Communist Party of India-Marxist -- that spoke about a change in the attitude of the party in Kerala.

Most of the reports ridiculed the CPI-M, saying 'Krishnan' (Lord Krishna) was indeed 'comrade Krishnan', referring to the state secretary.

Saturday saw massive security in Kannur as the BJP held a 'Shobhayatra' as part of Krishna Jayanthi celebrations.

The BJP and the CPI-M were both allotted separate routes to take out their processions.

Kannur district has in the the past seen violent clashes between cadres of the BJP and the CPI-M. In violence that broke out in August, one member each of the BJP and CPI-M were killed and a dozen others injured in five districts, including Kasargode and Kannur.

"There is a concerted move on the part of the RSS/BJP to convert all Hindu religious functions as their programme. Everyone has the right to conduct programmes," said Balakrishnan.

"Krishna Jayanthi celebrations has existed since ages, and in those times there was neither the RSS nor the BJP," he said.

Leader of Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan said the CPI-M "has not diluted any of its ideologies".

Meanwhile, CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran said their party does not celebrate religious functions.

"Revolution and faith cannot go together. Marxists follows dialectical materialism," said Rajendran.