Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan has alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in the State capital on Friday had made it clear that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sangh Parivar’s poll agenda in Kerala is purely communal.
Mr. Modi had nothing to say about developmental achievements, the country’s future, or the State’s priorities. Instead, he made only communal remarks, Mr. Satheesan said in a statement here.
The Prime Minister had every right to come to the State and take part in official and party programmes. However, it was dangerous to make communal statements while in a post that had been graced by many a statesman.
However, Mr. Modi and the BJP would realise soon that this was secular Kerala. The divisive politics and communalism that they were trying to push in many States would not work here, Mr. Satheesan noted.
He stressed that protecting secularism was among the first priorities of the Congress, the Indian Union Muslim League, and the United Democratic Front. They did not need Mr. Modi’s validation for their secular stance and would go to any extent to protect it, Mr. Satheesan said.
