Kerala CPM minister Govindan, BJP leader Surendran spar over majority, minority fundamentalism

Kerala minister MV Govindan’s statement that majority fundamentalism is more dangerous than minority fundamentalism has drawn sharp criticism. BJP leader K Surendran said that the government's stance might turn Kerala into Kashmir.

Kerala Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM’s) minister MV Govindan and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, K Surendran have given rise to a fresh debate on majority and minority fundamentalism. The CPM minister on Monday, said that majority fundamentalism was more dangerous than minority Fundamentalism.

Reacting to this, BJP leader Surendran said that the CPM’s stance in Kerala might turn the state into another Kashmir.

Minister MV Govindan made the statement while talking about the political killings in Kerala’s Palakkad last week where an RSS leader and Popular Front of India (PFI) activist were murdered.

“Majority fundamentalism is more dangerous. Majority fundamentalism is working towards the formation of Hindu rashtra. The hatred towards minorities is part of that attempt to create a Hindu rashtra. Minority fundamentalism emerges to resist majority fundamentalism. There’s no doubt that it is majority fundamentalism that leads to the development of minority fundamentalism,” Govindan said.

However, BJP leader K Surendran did not mince words in his response. He slammed the comment, and said that the government's stance might turn Kerala into Kashmir.

“The minister’s words show open support for PFI, which has become a threat to peaceful life in the country. The CPM’s response is worrying. They have an alliance with communal forces. It is whitewashing the PFI, which is an Indian agency for international religious terrorism,” he said.

Meanwhile, opposition leader VD Satheesan said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was appeasing all communal forces in the name of social engineering. This, he said, ties the government's hand in such issues.