Thiruvananthapuram: The Nair Service Society (NSS) has intensified its protest against Kerala Assembly Speaker and CPI(M) leader, A.N. Shamseer, over his controversial remarks about Lord Ganesha, and demanded an apology.
However, the ruling CPI (M) government clarified on Saturday, that Shamseer never said that the Hindu deity is a myth and that the party has always stood with the true believers in society.
The demand for an apology was reiterated by the NSS in a statement after a director board meeting on Saturday.
Shamseer, during an event at Kothamangalam a few days ago, had accused the Centre of trying to teach children Hindu myths instead of accomplishments in science and technology. He also said that Lord Ganesha was a myth and the belief had no scientific basis. His comments triggered a major uproar in Kerala.
The BJP and right-wing outfits like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) voiced their protest and launched a campaign against Shamseer, days after which the NSS came forward seeking an apology.
The support extended by NSS has led to the CPI(M) becoming more guarded.
NSS general secretary, Sukumaran Nair, said that belief was important and that the Speaker has to apologise for his remarks against Lord Ganesha, who is being worshipped by millions of Hindus.
The NSS had carried out a 'Nama Japa Yatra’ or public procession with prayers to Lord Ganesha in the state capital. The government even charged a criminal case against several NSS workers and cadres, including women and children, on charges of creating roadblocks.
The NSS state vice president, M. Sangeeth Kumar, was charged as the first accused in the case.
The state secretary of the CPI(M), M.V. Govindan had come out in support of Shamseer and had even told the media that Lord Ganesha was a myth, but later he had to take back his comment and said that the media was twisting his words.
The NSS director board meeting on Saturday also decided not to go into state-level agitations against the statement of Shamseer but to resort to legal recourse in the matter.
Vellapally Natesan, the general secretary of the powerful backward class Ezhava organisation, SNDP also demanded an apology from Shamseer for hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community. He said that if Shamseer had apologised the issue would have been settled.
Shamseer, has, however, reiterated his stance that promoting science does not mean rejecting religion.
The CPM has maintained that there is nothing wrong with the speech and there is no questioning of offering correction or an apology.