Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday reiterated that Thrissur pooram was not disrupted as alleged by the Opposition and accused the Congress-led UDF of unleashing "exaggerated campaigns" as if the festival was completely messed up in April this year.
Acknowledging that certain things took place in connection with this year's Thrissur pooram, he said all such interventions made in relation to the festival would be examined.
He also made it clear that efforts are being made by the government to conduct the Pooram festivities in a flawless manner in the coming years, a CMO statement said
The CMO came out with an explanation amidst intense criticism from the Congress and BJP against his recent statement that there was no disruption in this year's Thrissur Pooram.
On Saturday, Vijayan said the Pooram festival was not disrupted and only its fireworks display was delayed for some time.
Contrary to the stand taken by the CM, the Kerala police, however, registered a case on the next day into the alleged disruption of the Pooram in April this year.
"The government has always taken the same stand in this regard... that Pooram was not disrupted. But, there had been efforts to make it messy," Vijayan said in a statement on Monday.
He said this has already been clarified in the cabinet decision with regard to the inquiry ordered in connection with the Thrissur Pooram and inside the Assembly also.
Vijayan reiterated that the firework display, one of the major attractions of the festival, had been delayed.
The Devaswoms, the organisers of the festival, had conducted certain rituals reducing its actual time, he said.
"Why is the Opposition so eager to establish that Pooram was completely sabotaged when efforts are being made to ascertain the reason for everything that happened (on the day)?"
Taking on the Sangh Parivar, the Left leader alleged that the rightwing outfit has an agenda of using Pooram and other festivities for communal gains.
Instead of politically exposing such malicious moves, the Congress-led UDF is trying to reap benefits by establishing the Sangh Parivar's campaign that the Pooram was disrupted, Vijayan alleged.
He also accused the UDF of acting like a "B team" of the right wing outfit.
If anyone has committed any wrong or shown any negligence at the official level, it would be brought before the law and would be given appropriate punishment, the CM added.
For the first time in the history of the festival, the display of fireworks, one of the major attractions of the event, which was scheduled in the early hours, was held in broad daylight the next day, which turned out to be a disappointment for the festival buffs.
The alleged interference of the police in the Pooram festivities and the delayed display of fireworks triggered sharp reactions in the state as opposition parties criticised the CPI(M) led government over the issue.
Thrissur (Kerala) | Targeting the Pinarayi Vijayan-led state government, Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Monday demanded a CBI investigation into the alleged disruption of the Thrissur Pooram in April this year.
Addressing the convention for BJP Chelakkara bypoll candidate K Balakrishnan, the Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism refuted earlier claims from BJP leaders that he had arrived at the Pooram venue in an ambulance.
"I went there in the private car of the BJP district president, not an ambulance, as Surendran (BJP state president K Surendran) believes," Gopi said.
He accused the state government of trying to obscure the truth, and said, "If Pinarayi Vijayan's police handle the investigation, the reality will remain hidden. Only a CBI inquiry can bring the truth to light."
"Challenging the state government, he said, "If they have the courage, they should ask the CBI to carry out the investigation. I am ready to face it."
The Thrissur Pooram disruption row has triggered a political debate in the state after Chief Minister Vijayan stated that the Pooram and the other rituals were not disrupted.
CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan also echoed the same view.
However, the opposition Congress-led UDF disagreed with the Chief Minister's remarks.
Meanwhile, the Thrissur East Police registered a case for disrupting the Thrissur Pooram following a report submitted by the special investigation team that was constituted to conduct an inquiry into the matter.
Congress and the Left ally CPI have alleged that the Pooram was purportedly disrupted to help the BJP win the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat by evoking Hindu sentiment.
Visuals showing Suresh Gopi arriving at the site in an ambulance have also surfaced in the media.
However, BJP leaders claimed that Gopi, who was the saffron party’s candidate in Thrissur, came to ensure that the ceremonies were being performed according to the rituals.
The actor-turned-politician further alleged that the ruling CPI(M) fears an impartial probe would expose the truth behind the disruption of the annual festivities.
"They are worried that many, including former and current ministers, could be questioned. I arrived at the venue on that day to inquire about the police atrocities against hundreds of Pooram lovers," he said.