Kerala event parades Hamas leaders' pics; BJP fails to find it amusing

Palakkad/Kerala: An annual culture fest in Kerala’s Palakkad, where pictures of Hamas leaders getting paraded atop elephants, had given something to BJP to make an attack on the state administration. A member of the organising committee told PTI that it was no religious event and some sections were attempting to trigger communal tension over the procession that exhibited Hamas leaders, PTI reported.

BJP’s chief in Kerala, K Surendran, shared a video showing the procession on X and wrote, One year ago, when @BJP4Keralam warned against a rally in Kerala where a Hamas leader virtually participated, the LDF govt took no action. Now, in Palakkad, at an Urus festival, terrorists who killed thousands were glorified—pictures of Ismail Haniyeh & Yahya Sinwar were paraded on elephants, where a Communist Minister and a former CONGRESS MLA were also present." "What message is being sent here? Why is @pinarayivijayan silent again? If he has even an ounce of spine left, take action! If not, just resign and accept that you are a total 'Parajayan'!"

One year ago, when @BJP4Keralam warned against a rally in Kerala where a Hamas leader virtually participated, the LDF govt took no action. Now, in Palakkad, at a Urus festival, terrorists who killed thousands were glorified—pictures of Ismail Haniyeh & Yahya Sinwar were paraded… pic.twitter.com/eBRfTJvMX9

— K Surendran (@surendranbjp) February 17, 2025

Following the clamour, Congress leader VT Balram criticised a section of the media for allegedly using the controversy surrounding the Thrithala Fest to target the Muslim community and Kerala, even at the national level.

He stated that all Indians who are not affiliated with the Sangh Parivar support the Palestinian people and their aspirations for independence.

The Congress leader said that whether Hamas leaders should be glorified is a separate issue but condemned the Sangh Parivar for allegedly using the matter as part of an anti-Muslim hate campaign.