The controversial tableau, which appeared during a procession in Kannur, portrayed two men nailing Sree Narayana Guru on a crossTwitter A tableau of Sree Narayana Guru during a procession held by SNDP Yogam on Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti in Idukki, Kerala on 31 August 2015. (Representational Image)Facebook Page/ Sree Narayanan Guru
After portraying the crucifixion of Sree Narayana Guru in a tableau during a pageant held on Krishna Janmashtami in Kerala last week, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday came forward, saying it was a mistake.
The controversial tableau, which appeared during a procession in Kannur on Saturday, portrayed two men nailing Guru on a cross.
However, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Monday reportedly said that the party had not insulted Sree Narayana Guru, who he said was a great social reformer.
"We don't do anything, which hurts the feeling of the followers of Guru. The CPM tries to implement Guru's teachings. Majority of the party workers belong to SNDP Yogam," Manorama Online quoted Balakrishnan as saying.
State's leader of opposition VS Achutanandan said it was a mistake and that the allegations of insulting Guru were being made by saffron outfits in a bid to tarnish the party's image.
Earlier, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Nateshan had said that those responsible for the incident will have to face dire consequences.
"The CPM has become the Judas who betrayed Guru. CPM doesn't have to decide what politics should the followers of Guru believe in. People will give a fitting reply to the party for such deeds," Vellapally said.
The CPM had conducted several pageants across Kerala on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami in a bid to woo support from Hindu voters, who now seem to lean towards the BJP. In the recent by-election in Aruvikkara assembly constituency, BJP had eaten into the vote share of the Left Democratic Front.
