Mindset behind attack on Tushar Gandhi same as that of Mahatma’s assassins: Kerala CM
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday strongly condemned the alleged “Sangh Parivar attack” on Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, which took place in Neyyattinkara a day earlier.
He also warned against attempts to obstruct the visits of national and international figures to Kerala.
A group of men, reportedly RSS-BJP workers, raised slogans against Gandhi, urging him to withdraw a statement he had made against the RSS. Reacting to the incident, Vijayan asserted that the mindset of those behind the act was no different from that of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassins.
"This is highly condemnable. Actions that suppress freedom of expression cannot be allowed in a democratic society. Legal and democratic measures will be taken against such tendencies," he said in a statement.
‘Sangh Parivar tarnishing Kerala’s culture’
Vijayan emphasised the need to strengthen public opinion to reject such acts. He noted that in Neyyattinkara, Tushar Gandhi had expressed concern that "the soul of the nation was being afflicted by the cancer of communalism."
"Our culture respects even opposing viewpoints. The Sangh Parivar is tarnishing that very culture. Without succumbing to provocation, Tushar Gandhi simply raised a call of 'Jai Gandhi' and left. Attempts to block the visits of national and international figures to Kerala will not be tolerated," Vijayan said.
He further stated that a strong protest from secular and democratic society must arise against the incident.
"This is not a moment for any individual, community, or political movement that values democracy to remain silent. Only through such awareness and the resulting strong public protest can we safeguard our freedom of expression and other democratic rights," he added.
Tushar Gandhi warns of RSS threat
Speaking at an event to unveil the statue of late Gandhian P Gopinathan Nair, Gandhi remarked that both the UDF and LDF, despite their political rivalry, must recognise a greater threat—the RSS and BJP.
"The BJP we would be able to defeat, but the RSS is poison. And we have to be very cautious about it because if it spreads through the circulation system of our country, then all is lost," he claimed.
The police stated that a small group of people, allegedly linked to the Sangh Parivar, raised slogans against Gandhi at the end of the function. No case has been registered in connection with the incident, they added.
TV visuals showed a group of men raising slogans against Gandhi, demanding he withdraw his statement.
With PTI inputs