Unfazed by criticism from the Opposition and Muslim outfits, chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Monday stood by his remarks that the radical outfit Popular Front of India was aiming at “Islamisation of Kerala”.
The veteran CPI(M) leader told the Assembly that he stood by what he had said on PFI and attempts to misinterpret it as a remark targeting the Muslim community as a whole is meant to spread misunderstanding. Mr Achuthanandan said his intention was to expose the “subversive activities” of the PFI and that his statement was based on evidence found by the police during the probe into the chopping off of the hand of lecturer T.J. Joseph. Suspected PFI activists had attacked Joseph on July 4 for preparing a question paper that allegedly had derogatory references to Prophet Mohammed. “We (CPI-M) are firm in opposing the Sangh Parivar outfits like the RSS and the Bajrang Dal. Could anybody interpret it as an attack on Hinduism or the entire Hindu community?” he asked. On the attack by the Congress and its ally the Indian Union Muslim League over his statement, he said, “I am at a loss to know as to why they are getting worried when I sought to expose the nefarious activities by a miniscule group in the name of religion”. Describing PFI as just another version of the Sangh Parivar, he said “the politics of violence” indulged in by the Hindu outfit in Gujarat and other parts had come to light with more evidence these days. The effort of the LDF government was to root out the extremist and communal forces and the intention of his statement was to give a warning to the people and democratic forces about the dangers posed by the PFI, he said. The content of pamphlets seized during the raids on the offices of the PFI were “highly communal” and challenged the democratic set-up with some of their literature even advocating rejection of democracy holding that “Islam and democracy” are two opposite ideologies, he said. The PFI pamphlets said it would be difficult for the Muslims in India to gain majority in Parliament, but no force could prevent installation of an Islamic rule in the country if hard work was put up to secure this goal, he said. Despite the chief minister’s clarification, Opposition leader Oommen Chandy demanded withdrawal of the statement arguing it amounted to insulting the entire Muslim community. He, however, offered the Opposition’s support to the government in suppressing PFI's “subversive” activities.