Thiruvananthapuram | BJP state general secretary S Suresh on Saturday came to the defence of party leader Shone George, saying that he only criticised the alleged "misuse" of a media house for political interests.
Shone had recently criticised the church-supported Malayalam daily -- Deepika -- over its reported stance favouring the UDF ahead of the Assembly polls in Kerala.
Suresh said that any attempt to divert the support of any religious group or community to the Congress, "will be seen as politics and will be questioned politically".
"Such questioning or criticism should not be misinterpreted. Shone George's remarks were against a media house which the Congress has projected as the mouthpiece of a particular section of a religion.
"Shone only spoke out against the misuse of the media house, known to be associated with a particular religion, for political gains," the BJP state general secretary told reporters here.
With regard to comments against some bishops by Shone's father P C George, Suresh said that the latter's remarks were probably influenced by the peculiar regional situation in Poonjar and any further clarifications regarding it will have to be sought from the veteran politician.
Suresh's remarks come in the wake of widespread criticism against the father-son duo and the BJP over the pair's recent remarks against the Malayalam daily and bishops.
The BJP state general secretary said that the party respects and protects all religions and beliefs, and its aim was to treat everyone equally.
"Equal justice to all, appeasement towards none is the BJP stand. Neither the Centre nor any government of a BJP-ruled state has shown any discrimination towards any caste or religion," he said.
He claimed that in Kerala, there was discrimination based on religion, and this was seen in Munambam and when there was an attack on the Pala Bishop.
Each time, it was the BJP that stood up for secularism, he further claimed.
Suresh further contended that the BJP has more Christian members than other political organisations and thousands of people from the Muslim community have also expressed their interest in working for the party.
"BJP does not have a communal stand. It is an inclusive political party," he said.
Shone has alleged that the newspaper had taken a position favouring the Congress-led UDF in the run-up to the Assembly elections, and asserted that the Church had no moral obligation to safeguard the interests of the daily's investors.
George criticised certain Catholic bishops, alleging that they supported the opposition UDF in the polls. He also claimed that a bishop of the Kanjirapally diocese had directed nuns to vote for the front.