Joke on Hindu deities: CPI to publicly censure MLA P Balachandran

Thrissur: Communist Party of India (CPI) leadership here has decided to take disciplinary action against party fellow and MLA P Balachandran over his joke on Hindu deities. The decision comes after the party district executive conference was held. 

CPI district leadership views Balachandran action as a grave lack of discipline. During the conference, the leaders condemned Balachandran’s action and maintained that the party values religious beliefs and customs which come under the purview of individual freedom.

The leadership has decided to publicly censure Balachandran. It may be noted that disciplinary action in the communist parties can usually take six forms: warning, public censure, removal from party posts, disassociation from the party, suspension from full party membership for up to a year, and expulsion.

Balachandran landed in trouble over a Facebook post in which he made derogatory remarks against Lord Ram, Sita, and Lakshman. His controversial post on the Ramayana alleged that Sita served 'porotta' and meat to Ram and Lakshman.

Balachandran withdrew the post as it became controversial. He then maintained that he had simply posted an old joke and expressed regret over the pain it had caused to the devotees of Lord Ram. "I posted an old story on Facebook the other day. I didn't mean to offend anyone. I retracted it within minutes, so no one should worry about it. I sincerely apologise," he said in another Facebook post. 

The BJP slammed Balachandran, alleging that only a Communist can trample on the beliefs of crores of Hindus, and stated that legal action will be initiated against him.