Lamp lighting: Kummanam calls CPI-M stand ‘cultural fascism’

Kochi: State BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan on Monday hit back at CPI-M leader and Public Works minister G Sudhakaran, who had said that lighting of lamps and singing of religious hymns at government programmes and functions at schools should be avoided.

“Sudhakaran’s remarks show CPI-M’s cultural fascism. The language of their leaders is that of insulting the cultural heredity of the nation. The Left leaders create such controversies to deviate people’s attention from the real issues,” Kummanam said.

Sudhakaran invited criticism from certain quarters including BJP leader for his remarks on the practice of lamp lighting.

While inaugurating a seminar, 'Namukku Jathiyilla' (We are not caste driven) at Muthukulam in Alappuzha district Sunday evening, Sudhakaran said, "our Constitution has no religion or caste. So there is no need to light 'nilavilakku' (traditional lamps) during the inauguration of the government programmes or at functions of schools."

The senior CPI-M leader said that the state government does not subscribe to any particular caste or religion.

The minister also claimed that he had recently seen a girl student reciting a prayer in praise of a goddess at a school function.

"Though it was inappropriate, singing of religious prayers and lighting of traditional lamps had become a common practice during official functions in the state now-a-days," he added.

He also suggested that patriotic songs be sung during public functions, instead of religious hymns.