Pinarayi Vijayan seeks to portray LDF-ruled Kerala as ‘an oasis of secularism’

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sought to project Kerala as an island of secularism in a turbulent sea of religious intolerance, sectarian violence and communal unrest

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on March 6 (Wednesday) sought to project Kerala 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 Mohalla committees, imams, students and teachers from madrasas, and religious preachers participated in the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s Muslim outreach programme, titled INSAF, at the Kerala Legislative Assembly complex in Thiruvananthapuram.

Mr. Vijayan projected Kerala 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.

Mr. Vijayan said attempts to “demonise Muslims and other minorities as fifth-columnists and treacherous extremists” were rife in the country.

He claimed that Kerala stood tall in the hour of deepening darkness. He said the State was a staunch and unwavering bulwark against well-entrenched 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, New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.