‘God is not secure in God's Own Country’: Rajnath Singh slams LDF in Kerala

Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram: Senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched a blistering attack on the ruling LDF government in poll-bound Kerala, asserting that "God is not secure" in a state famously known as God's own country. Addressing election rallies in Paravur and Nedumangad on Wednesday, Singh accused the Left administration of betraying religious sentiments for financial gain.

Drawing a sharp biblical parallel, Singh remarked that "just like Judas betrayed Jesus Christ for a few pieces of silver, the LDF has betrayed Lord Ayyappa for a few pieces of gold”. This was a direct reference to the controversial Sabarimala gold loss allegations. He further contended that if the divine is unprotected, the plight of the common citizen is inevitably worse. He promised a time-bound CBI investigation into the alleged misappropriation of shrine gold should the NDA be voted to power.

The Defence Minister didn't spare the opposition UDF either, claiming that while CPM leaders allegedly stole the gold, Congress leaders assisted in selling it. "Those who stole the gold from the doors of the Sabarimala shrine, will be shown the door by the people of Kerala," he declared.

A critique of "Front" politics

Singh redefined the acronyms of the state’s major coalitions, labelling the LDF as "loot, division and failure" and the UDF as "untrustworthy, dishonesty and fraud”. He accused both fronts of pushing Kerala into a debt trap of nearly ₹5 lakh crore and obstructing Central development projects. Despite allegations from the state regarding withheld funds, Singh noted that the BJP-led Centre had provided ₹1.5 lakh crore to Kerala between 2014 and 2024.

Allegations of corruption and extremism

The Union Minister highlighted various scandals, including the 2020 gold smuggling case and money laundering allegations involving the Chief Minister’s family. He also revisited UDF-era scandals like the solar scam and bar bribery case to argue that both fronts are "two sides of the same coin”.

Turning to security and social issues, Singh accused the Left of fostering a culture of "revenge and violence" and criticized both fronts for "appeasement politics”, citing the Munambam land dispute as an example. He questioned, "Who will save Kerala from Jamaat-e-Islami, Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI)?" asserting that only the BJP offers a viable alternative.

A vision for ‘The Kerala Story’

Referencing the controversial film The Kerala Story, Singh stated that the state's narrative should shift toward development, peace and prosperity rather than the issues depicted on screen. He concluded by highlighting rising unemployment and crime rates under the current administration, urging voters to bring change in the upcoming Assembly elections on April 9.

PTI