Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has criticized Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for what he perceives as Kerala’s leniency toward radical elements and the process of radicalization. This critique follows a clash between the two leaders after Chandrasekhar posted comments on social media regarding the recent explosions during a religious gathering in Kalamassery. Chandrasekhar clarified that his remarks were not intended to target any particular community but rather centered on the involvement of an organization. He asserted that under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s leadership, Kerala has shown a level of tolerance towards radical elements and the process of radicalization. Furthermore, Chandrasekhar alleged that both the Congress and the Left in Kerala have a history of appeasement when it comes to radical elements in the state. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has clarified that he did not specify any particular community in his social media post on platform X. He asserted that his comments focused on Hamas, an organization, and felt that the Chief Minister was attempting to draw a parallel between Hamas and the broader Muslim community in the state and country.
Chandrasekhar’s post on Sunday criticized the Kerala Chief Minister for not intervening when the Hamas chief had the opportunity to address a large gathering of youth and allegedly promote radicalism. Chandrasekhar and his party have consistently maintained that under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s leadership, Kerala has displayed a degree of tolerance towards radical elements and radicalization. He also accused both the Congress and the Left in Kerala of historically appeasing radical elements. The blasts occurred at a convention center in Kalamassery near Kochi during a prayer meeting of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, resulting in casualties, including three fatalities. Chandrasekhar went on to accuse both the Congress and the Left parties in Kerala of having a historical track record of accommodating radical elements within the state. He argued that they have been negligent in addressing the escalating radicalism in the southern region. The tragic incident took place at a convention center in Kalamassery, near Kochi, where a gathering of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian religious group with origins in the United States during the 19th century, was holding a prayer meeting. Initially, the explosion resulted in the loss of one life and left 60 individuals injured, with six in critical condition. Regrettably, one of the critically injured, a 53-year-old woman, later succumbed to her injuries. The death toll had risen to three by Monday morning, with the tragic passing of a 12-year-old girl who had suffered severe burns amounting to 95 percent of her body.
