Fort Kochi cafe row: Kerala BJP chief warns CM Satheesan against ‘selective secularism’

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has warned Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan against what he called “selective secularism”, while backing the CM’s condemnation of alleged communal remarks made by a YouTuber about a cafe in Fort Kochi.

In a post on X on Sunday, Chandrasekhar said he agreed with Satheesan’s position that communal hatred had no place in Kerala, but questioned what he described as a growing trend in the state’s political culture. He called for equal sensitivity and respect towards Hindus, Christians and Muslims.

The Fort Kochi police have registered a case against vlogger Amrit Singh Darren over alleged communal remarks in an Instagram video about Kashi Art Cafe.

BJP chief questions Congress, CPM over political alliances

Chandrasekhar questioned what he described as the glorification of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the defence of Hamas and its violence by some politicians, and political alliances involving the Congress and the CPM with Jamaat-e-Islami.

He accused the two parties of giving a “free pass” to people whose conduct he said insulted Kerala and its communities.

Referring to the cafe row, Chandrasekhar asked how the Chief Minister would respond to a similar situation involving a Muslim holy city. “Imagine Kerala CM's tweet and response if someone opens a restaurant named after a Muslim holy city and served Pork? He will find himself being an Ex-CM or fleeing for his life or both,” he said.

He also claimed that former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had “abused” and “targeted” him for speaking against what he described as Hamas radicalisation efforts in Kerala.
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Cites freedom of expression, calls for equal respect

The BJP leader referred to Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression subject to constitutionally permitted restrictions. He said the restrictions under Article 19(2) applied equally to every Indian.

Chandrasekhar urged Satheesan to ensure equal sensitivity towards people of all religions and not encourage what he described as anti-India or anti-Hindu insults, discourse or actions.

“Selective secularism and selective talk of communal harmony will make you like every other fake politician before you. And we will resist it. Fully. Every time,” he said.
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Remarks follow BJP chief’s intervention in Lok Bhavan food row

Chandrasekhar’s latest remarks come a day after he defended Governor Om Prakash Mathur amid a controversy over a reported instruction to make the Lok Bhavan kitchen vegetarian-only.

On Saturday, the BJP chief argued that the occupant of a house had the right to decide the food served according to personal preferences. He also accused the Congress of diverting attention from public concerns by focusing on the Governor’s dietary choices.

Lok Bhavan sources said the instruction applied to food prepared for the Governor and his family, and did not restrict employees’ food choices.

The two interventions have placed food, religious sensitivity and secularism at the centre of the latest political exchanges in Kerala.

(With IANS inputs)