BJP slams CM over his remarks against cross removal

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP on Friday slammed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over his remarks against the pulling down of a 30-feet tall metal cross as part of an official anti-encroachment drive in the hill station of Munnar in Idukki district.

Talking to the media on Friday, BJP state President Kummanam Rajasekharan said the Chief Minister’s approach was that of supporting the encroachers.

“It is a matter of concern that the CM of a State taking a stand in support of the encroachers. If his issue was with the manner the cross was removed, why did he not express any regret over his own remarks against the prophet’s hair controversy related to the AP faction of the Sunnis?,” Kummanam asked.

“The CM is showing an approach that was not seen before when he insulted Sree Narayana Guru. He should reveal what association he has with the ‘Spirit in Jesus’, the sect that encroached on the government land,” the BJP leader said.

Vijayan had on Thursday expressed strong displeasure over the manner the Revenue officials pulled down of a 30-feet tall metal cross as part of an official anti-encroachment drive in the hill station of Munnar in Idukki district.

Vijayan said the steps taken by the district administration have resulted in some misunderstanding among a particular section of the society.

"A cross which was there was destroyed as part of an anti-encroachment drive. The government viewed the matter very seriously," he said in Kottayam.

The cross, set up under the garb of spiritual tourism atop a hilly area, was brought down with the help of earth movers Thursday morning.

It was set up on a 30-acre piece of land allegedly impinged by a group of people calling itself, ‘Spirit in Jesus’.

Besides the cross, some thatched sheds and a prayer hall too were also demolished as part of the operation.