THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state once again got into a political battle over the protection of faith as the NSS went on a prayer journey to Ganpati temples against Speaker AN Shamseer's controversial speech that Lord Ganesha was a myth. The Faith Protection Day celebrations in the capital and several other centres yesterday were reminiscent of the namajapa ghoshayatra by thousands of devotees on the call of the NSS to protect the ritual at Sabarimala. NSS workers from all 6500 Karayogams visited Ganesha temples, broke coconuts and offered prayers and offerings. Hundreds of Vanitha Samajam workers also participated. The political atmosphere is changing with only ten months left for the next Lok Sabha elections.

With the NSS on the scene, CPM state secretary MV Govindan called a press conference yesterday to clarify that Shamseer had said nothing wrong and would not apologise. Opposition leader VD Satheesan, KPCC president K Sudhakaran and Ramesh Chennithala came to the scene demanding that the Speaker's statement be corrected. This comes after the NSS General Secretary expressed his displeasure over the silence of the Congress leaders in Changanassery yesterday.

SNDP vice-president Thushar Vellappally, who reached the NSS headquarters yesterday on a personal matter, defended that the protest by believers was natural. While justifying the Speaker's speech, CPM state secretary MV Govindan tried to portray that it was the Congress and the BJP that were using it as a political weapon. He denied the NSS' allegations but was careful not to mention the name of NSS or Sukumaran Nair. Speaker Shamseer, who tried to cool down the issue by saying that he was not against religion and did not intend to hurt anyone, also took care not to offend NSS.

Political gain

1. When the Sabarimala controversy broke out, it was UDF that got the political benefit of the faith protection protests in the Lok Sabha elections. Congress and League leaders came out yesterday in support of faith protection as they expect political gains from similar interventions of NSS in the Speaker controversy.
2. The BJP and its supporters were the first to come forward against Shamseer. NSS General Secretary has stated that he will cooperate with Hindu organizations. Despite the Sabarimala issue, the BJP did not get the full support of the NSS in 2019.

There is nothing that needs to be corrected. Everything that was said is true. This is the CPM stand.

MV Govindan,

CPM State Secretary

There is no change in the position that the speaker should apologise. Faith is greater than science. Will work in harmony with Hindu organizations on this issue.

G Sukumaran Nair,

NSS General Secretary

The speaker should correct his statement. Sangh Parivar and CPM are burning the issue for political gain.

VD Satheesan,

Leader of the Opposition

CPM is teasing Hindus. Scientific explanation and discussion are only in the case of Hindu beliefs. The position is different in the case of the speaker's religion

V Muralidharan

Union Minister of State