Thiruvananthapuram: BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar advised chief minister V D Satheesan to show “equal respect and sensitivity” towards Hindus, Christians and Muslims, describing this as respect for “all Malayalis”.In a social media post, Chandrasekhar also urged not to promote what he termed “anti-India and anti-Hindu” insults, narratives, actions or attitudes. He cited the admiration for Muhammad Ali Jinnah as an example.He was responding to a social media post by the CM criticising a vlogger from outside the state attempting to spread misinformation about Fort Kochi, portray the state in a negative light, and divide communities. Satheesan said that a case has been registered as the UDF govt remains committed to communal harmony and justice without fear or favour.Chandrasekhar said he agreed with the sentiment expressed by Satheesan, but raised questions about what he described as the political culture taking root in Kerala. He questioned the alleged glorification of Pakistan’s founder Jinnah, the justification or encouragement of Hamas and its violence, and the alleged political ties between Congress, CPM and Jamaat-e-Islami.“As much as CM @vdsatheesan twists and turns in the political wind to justify this destructive political culture, let this be clear – the only reason some people think they can get away with insults and insensitive behavior (Don’t forget this cafe is named after Kashi – the holy Hindu city) is because they get a free-pass (encouragement) from Cong/CPM for this,” Chandrasekhar wrote on X.He asked how Satheesan would have reacted on social media if someone had opened a restaurant named after a holy Muslim city and served pork. He also alleged that opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan had insulted and targeted him for speaking out against Hamas radicalisation attempts.He said Articles 19 and 19(2) of the Constitution, freedom of expression and its limitations applied to every Indian. He urged Satheesan not to promote “anti-India and anti-Hindu” insults, discourse, actions, including sentiment like Jinnah worship.Chandrasekhar said BJP would support Satheesan if he followed this approach, but warned that “selective secularism” and “selective talk of communal harmony” would be resisted. He said Kerala belonged to all Malayalis and that only Malayalis should shape the state’s present and future, including its food, culture and celebrations.
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