Hindu organisations, inspired by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), have no role in the demolition of a church set erected to shoot a Malayalam film, Minnal Murali, in Kalady, Ernakulam on Sunday. The set was put up to shoot the climax scene of the film starring Tovino Thomas directed by Basil Joseph.
Hindu organisations have reacted angrily to the efforts of some sections of the media to link Sangh Parivar organisations into the whole episode. “This is the handiwork of a group of hooligans who have no association with the Sangh organisations or Hindu organisations. Stern action should be taken against the criminals who destroyed the set when no one was around,” said BJP spokesperson Sandeep G Varier.
According to Varier, the shooting was called off for the film due to lockdown. “Those who committed the criminal act were fraud men who pose themselves as saviours of Hindus,” added Varier.
R V Babu, general secretary of Hindu Aikya Vedi, an RSS-inspired organisation, also condemned the act and demanded stern action against the ‘quotation group’ which demolished the set. BJP Yuva Morcha leader Shyam Raj also condemned the demolition. “This is not Hindutva. Such acts does not serve any Hindutva cause,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hari Palode, the General Secretary of the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP), an organisation founded by Praveen Togadia, claimed the responsibility for demolition of the set. AHP and the Sangh organisations have always been on the loggerheads in Kerala. AHP, which worked on the behest of Marxists in the election, had tried to sabotage Sabarimala movement spearheaded by Hindu organisations.
Meanwhile, there is an allegation that the demolition was a ‘fixed match’ between the film producers and the hooligans to gain publicity and insurance amount. It was a ‘paid’ demolition drive in which film and AHP got adequate publicity. The ‘Leftover’ intellectuals and media and Left propaganda websites like The News Minute also swung into action denouncing ‘cultural fascism of the Sangh Parivar’.
Discussion about this post