Cocktail of politics, religion dangerous: Swami Agnivesh

Says liquor monopoly of followers an insult to Sree Narayana Guru

January 03, 2016 12:00 am | Updated September 22, 2016 09:34 pm IST - Thrissur:

Social activist Swami Agnivesh arrives to deliver a lecture on ‘Protest against fascism of Sangh Parivar’ in Thrissur on Saturday.– Photo: K.K. Najeeb

Social activist Swami Agnivesh arrives to deliver a lecture on ‘Protest against fascism of Sangh Parivar’ in Thrissur on Saturday.– Photo: K.K. Najeeb

Monopoly of his followers over liquor trade is an insult to Sree Narayana Guru who preached prohibition, social activist Swami Agnivesh has said.

He was delivering a lecture on ‘Protest against fascism of Sangh Parivar’ organised by the Rajeev Gandhi Study Circle here on Saturday. “A new political movement has been emerging in Kerala, which is trying to hijack the entire legacy of the Guru. The deadly cocktail of politics and religion is dangerous. There is an attempt to surrender Sree Narayana Guru’s ideologies to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS),” he said.

Hindu fundamentalism would harm true Hindus the most, he added.

“Radicalisation of the RSS will damage the secular fabric of the country. The BJP is following the narrow and radical ideology of the RSS, which supports fascism followed by Hitler and Mussolini.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is eloquent on all other issues, keeps mum when Hindutva forces spread the ideology of hatred.”

He called upon people to fight against all forms of fascism.

Speaking after inaugurating the programme, National Students Union of India (NSUI) president Roji M. John said the BJP rule at the Centre had brought back memories of fascism, which the world had forgotten after the Second World War.

“Hindu fascist forces are thriving on fake patriotism. They enforce patriarchal norms in society and violate the rights of women. They unleash attack against intellectuals and writers, and attempt to curb media freedom. There are even attempt to distort science and history,” Mr. John said.

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