Lamp lighting not religious affair; didn’t oppose Onam: Pinarayi

New Delhi: Lighting of lamps at government programmes and functions cannot be considered as a religious affair, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday.

“The religious symbols should not be used at the government functions. However, there is nothing wrong in lighting of lamps at public functions,” Pinarayi told reports.

Pinarayi also said he did not oppose the Onam celebrations at the government offices.

“What I had said that the celebrations should not affect the functioning of the offices. The media has distorted my remarks that I had made with good intention,” he said.

Public Works minister G Sudhakaran was in the eye of a storm over his remarks that lighting of lamps and singing of religious hymns at government programmes and functions at schools should be avoided.