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Thiruvananthapuram: The ruling CPI(M in Kerala on Sunday said the move of the BJP-led Centre of seeking an explanation from the Left party's MP John Brittas over an article critical of Union Home Minister Amit Shah was an indication of the "dangerous situation" prevailing in the country.
The CPI(M) said that not just Shah, but several other Sangh Parivar leaders have repeatedly given speeches and made statements that were "contemptuous" of Kerala.
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Kerala, which was number one in the Human Development Index (HDI), was even compared to a country like Somalia, it said.
The CPI(M) state secretariat, in a statement, further contended that the vindictiveness of the BJP leaders towards Kerala was due to the reason that it was a model state in protecting secularism and has provided alternatives to the globalisation policies of the central government.
Through the Sangh Parivar's intervention, even "anti-Kerala films" were being made, the Left party said and added that the move against Brittas should be seen in this background.
The CPI(M) pointed out that what Shah had said regarding Kerala in Karnataka recently was published in the media, but when the same was mentioned in an article by Brittas he was asked to give an explanation.
The Sangh Parivar's role of forgetting the freedom of speech and expression enjoyed by every individual and moving forward with such actions, as taken against the CPI(M) MP, deserves to be strongly opposed, the statement said.
The Left party urged everyone believing in democratic principles to come together and oppose such moves. Brittas was called to the office of Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar over his article following a complaint lodged by a BJP functionary, P Sudheer.
The meeting in which Brittas was asked to explain his article -- "Perils of Propaganda" -- took place last week.
In his complaint, Sudheer had called Brittas' article "highly divisive and polarising" and sought "suitable action against the seditious conduct".
PTI