Suresh Gopi’s comments on ‘Waqf’ stir up a row
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Kalpetta: As part of the nationwide Waqf push, Kerala BJP leaders have also heavily emphasised the issue during election campaigns.
During an electoral meeting on Saturday in Mananthavady, Union Minister Suresh Gopi stated that he had received a video on the subject from Amit Shah. “I have forwarded the video that was sent from the office of Amit Shah to the state leaders and district presidents of the party. It should be propagated from today onwards,” he said.
“I will not utter the word of the Board. It is barbarism in four English letters,” he said ostensibly referring to the Waqf Board, the New Indian Express reported.
V R Anup, a member of the KPCC media panel, has petitioned the Kambalakkad police against Suresh Gopi for the speech. Anup claimed in the complaint that the speech had offended religious feelings. The matter was also brought up by BJP spokesperson B Gopalakrishnan during the Kambalakkad election campaign.
“There is a chance for the claim that Sabarimala is Waqf property. There is a guy named Vavar sitting below the 18 steps at Sabarimala. If Vavar says I have given the area to Waqf, Sabarimala will become Waqf land from tomorrow. Lord Ayyappa will have to leave the place. Should we allow it,” he asked.
P K Kunhalikutty, the national general secretary of the IUML, responded to a question regarding Amit Shah's video by saying the BJP has to make it public as soon as possible. “We will get more votes if they do it. The margin of Priyanka Gandhi will increase,” he told reporters.
Kunhalikutty suggested that instead of making such divisive remarks, Suresh Gopi should exert pressure on the Centre to provide the landslide victims with financial aid.
“Sabarimala is the epitome of religious amity and the visit of Vavar is a practice from hundreds of years ago. For them (BJP) beliefs and practices are not an issue. It is politics for them,” he said. These comments show that the BJP has no respect for religious customs, he said.