In Kerala, a man was reportedly detained after he said Bhagavan Ganapathy is not a myth in front of Communist MLA and Kerala Assembly speaker AS Shamseer.
Many have condemned this incident saying that his right to freedom of speech & expression and freedom of religion guaranteed under Article 19 and 25 of the Constitution was violated.
It all started when Kerala Assembly Speaker and member of the ruling communist party AN Shamseer was inaugurating the new office of a local Cooperative Bank in Kannur.
A member from the audience can be heard saying “Bhagwan Ganapathy is not a myth” and Shamseer can be seen giving a sly smile.
An Interesting ARREST from Kerala !!
— महारथी-മഹാരഥി (@MahaRathii) September 29, 2023
“If you publicly Say Bhagavan Ganapathy is NOT A MYTH, you could face arrest”
A proud HINDU protested alone in front of the Kerala Assembly Speaker during the inauguration of a cooperative bank office Taken into Custody.
The Speaker, AN… pic.twitter.com/9z1HsSbJlm
Following the incident, the police took the young man into custody as he was protesting against Shamseer’s recent statement that insulted Bhagwan Ganesha and Sanatana Dharma.
Kerala Assembly Speaker Shamseer courted controversy recently for demeaning the Hindu God as a myth.
Shamseer while speaking at the inauguration of the ‘Vidya Jyothi project’ in Kunnathunad constituency, Ernakulam district referred to Hindu gods like ‘Ganapati’ and the ‘Pushpaka vimana’ associated with Ravana as mythical concepts lacking scientific evidence. Shamseer also suggested that in the era of artificial intelligence, such ideas should be discarded as myths.
He said “Plastic surgery is a new invention in medical science. But what is being taught is that plastic surgery had existed in ancient times… The example was Ganapati, with a man’s body and an elephant’s face. Instead of science, such myths are being promoted”.
MV Govindan, Kerala State Secretary of the CPI (M) held a press conference on 2 August 2023 regarding the controversial statements made by Assembly Speaker AN Shamsheer.
When asked if Shamseer will apologise or retract his statements, Govindan said, “Shamseer will not apologise nor will he retract/rephrase his statements because there is nothing wrong in what he said. When the country is progressing forward in this day and age, their ideologies are bringing it backward and we are against it.”
When a reporter asked whether he thought Lord Ganapati was a myth, he replied saying, “Is ganapati science then? Let us look at myths as myths only. The formation of Kerala is also a myth, right? We are not against believers.”
When another reporter asked if Allah was a myth, he replied saying, “What I said was that all beliefs of believers are not a myth. There are plenty of myths, like I said, the formation of Kerala is also one. Believers can follow their beliefs. They could consider things divine that are presented as divine. We don’t question it. There are myths and those that are not,” he added.
Journo: Is lord Ganesha a myth?
— നചികേതസ് (@nach1keta) August 3, 2023
CPM Secretary Govindan: Yes ofcourse!
Journo: Is Allahu a myth?
Govindan: I didn't say all Gods are myths. Unlike Hindus, Muslims doesn't have 1000s of Gods. They believe in a higher concept single God!
That's CPM for you!pic.twitter.com/n2EjxmT7nn
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