KOTTAYAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly criticised BJP and Sangh Parivar for allegedly unleashing violence in Sabarimala. “The RSS and BJP have been trying to create arson in the name of Sabarimala,” the chief minister said in the explanatory meeting held to explain the government’s stand.

The chief minister said some people’s idea is to make the issue controversial using violence. They may be able to mislead many. We should remember that the people stood by social reformers when the latter changed old beliefs and traditions. But here there are some who say we should follow what our predecessors did. Such kind of protests cannot frighten me. The need of the hour is to strengthen our secular mind,” the chief minister said here.