Kerala: Congress Scraps Ramayana Reading Plan After Bitter Internal Opposition

Facing bitter opposition from its members, the Congress has drooped its plan of holding readings of Ramayana in the state, Mint has reported.

Last week, multiple groups affiliated to the ruling CPI(M) had announced that they will hold “alternative, dialectical” readings of Ramayana to counter the version taught by right-wing groups in the state.

The Congress followed, saying it would also hold similar talks describing how “Rama Rajya” is close to Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of good governance.

However, according to the report, senior Congress leaders did not like the idea.

“It is not something that the Congress needs to do. Ours is a secular party where members of different beliefs coexist. It is the duty of communal organizations to organize religious programmes, not that of a political party,” former state Congress president K Muraleedharan was quoted as saying.

On Sunday, Congress working president M M Hassan cancelled the event.

“It was an independent body associated to the party which decided to observe Ramayana month, not the party. However, since many leaders have expressed their reservations against it, I have asked them to cancel the event,” he said.

This move came after the CPI(M), concerned that its vote bank will see the move as one pleasing the Hindus, distanced itself from the left-wing outfits which were planning to organise the Ramayana reading events.