A Central government-funded programme was inaugurated with Islamic prayers, triggering controversy in Kayamkulam, Alappuzha district. The event, meant to mark the opening of a Municipal Health and Wellness Centre, saw the inclusion of Ratheeb and Dua Majlis (Islamic prayer congregations), raising questions over the blatant religious overtones at a government function. The CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) governs the Kayamkulam Municipality, where the incident took place on 16 February.
The Islamic ritual was conducted by Chalisserry Thangal, a Muslim cleric, despite the fact that the project is a first-grade initiative of the Central Health Ministry, executed by the state government and the local self-government body. The inclusion of religious prayers in an official function has led to sharp criticism of the CPM and its alleged appeasement politics, particularly its ties with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
The inauguration took place in Ward No. 43 of Kayamkulam Municipality and was officiated by CPM minister Saji Cheriyan, with the session chaired by CPM MLA U. Prathibha Hari.
BJP Reacts
As expected, the DYFI and the Communists have chosen to remain silent on this particular incident. The only party that has spoken out against it is the BJP.
Sandeep Vachaspati, a senior BJP leader from Kerala, questioned whether the Indian Constitution has no place… pic.twitter.com/2ciPxrDkuW
— Anand #IndianfromSouth (@Bharatiyan108) February 19, 2025
Reacting strongly, BJP district president Sandeep Vachaspati condemned the presence of Islamic religious rituals at a government event, calling it an affront to the Constitution and the country’s secular framework. He demanded immediate legal action against those responsible and questioned whether the CPM had effectively declared Ward 43 an Islamic State simply because it is represented by an IUML councillor.
He further accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s government of fostering an unofficial Shariah rule in Kayamkulam Municipality, replacing the Indian Constitution. If this was not the case, he insisted that strict action be taken against those responsible for allowing religious prayers at a public function.
Vachaspati went on to allege that the CPM-Muslim League nexus has now reached a dangerous level, actively undermining the Constitution. He warned that the BJP would launch a public movement against such communal appeasement and the growing influence of Islamist politics in government affairs.
