Case over ‘disruption’ of iconic Kerala festival, Pinarayi Vijayan jabs opposition

The Kerala Police has filed an FIR in connection with the alleged disruption of the iconic Thrissur Pooram festival in April this year even as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused the Opposition of running “exaggerated campaigns” against the event.
The FIR, which does not mention any names of the accused, was registered under various charges, including criminal conspiracy, outraging one’s religious beliefs and provoking riots.
According to the FIR, there was a criminal conspiracy to incite riots by hurting religious sentiments.
In a statement, Vijayan said attempts were being made to disrupt the Thrissur Pooram festival, famous for its parade of elephants and drummers, but it was actually not disrupted. He alleged that it was the Sangh Parivar’s interest to disrupt the festival and called the Congress-led UDF a “B-team of Sangh Parivar”.
“The opposition is running exaggerated campaigns as if the Thrissur Pooram was completely disrupted. The tendency to use Pooram and similar festivals for communal gains is that of the Sangh Parivar. Instead of taking the responsibility of exposing and preventing such malicious moves politically, the opposition is making a shack move to gain benefits by establishing that Pooram was disrupted just like the Sangh Parivar,” he said.
“While this is being exposed, trying to establish that Pooram was disrupted is due to them acting as the B-team of the Sangh Parivar. It was the interest of the Sangh Parivar to disrupt Pooram. It has become the UDF’s interest to establish the same. All Pooram lovers and people are against them,” he 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.
On October 26, Vijayan said the Pooram festival was not disrupted and only its fireworks display was delayed for some time. However, the Kerala Police registered the FIR over the alleged disruption of the festival.
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.
The controversy came ahead of three bypolls that are set to be held in the state on November 13. The battle in two Assembly bypolls – Chelakkara and Palakkad – and the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is making her political debut, will be keenly watched.