Pinarayi seeks to project State as an oasis of secularism

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday sought to project the State as an island of secularism in a turbulent sea of religious intolerance, sectarian violence and communal unrest.

Mr. Vijayan was speaking at a politically significant interaction with Muslim community representatives ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Heads of influential Muslim social organisations, members of mahal committees, imams, students and madrasa teachers, and religious preachers participated in the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s Muslim outreach programme, titled INSAF, at the Kerala Legislative Assembly complex here.

Mr. Vijayan projected the State as an oasis of safety, freedom, welfare, development and prosperity for minorities, allusively giving a reason why they should pitch for the LDF in the national elections. He said attempts to “demonise Muslims and other minorities as fifthcolumnists and treacherous extremists” were rife in the country.

Communal violence

He said the State was a staunch and unwavering bulwark against wellentrenched political attempts to socially and economically marginalise Muslims and other minorities.

Mr. Vijayan recalled the incidents of alleged communal violence against minorities in Manipur, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

Mr. Vijayan contrasted these with the “communally harmonious, democratic and peaceful polity” in the State and obliquely attributed the accomplishment to LDF’s “unflinchingly secular politics.”

“We all know the sociopolitical reasons why Kerala remains a beacon of secularism and freedom. There have been no communal riots, conflagrations or instances of religious intolerance in the State in years. Minorities have felt safe and secure in Kerala than in any other part of the country,” he added.