As Kerala heads for perhaps its most important assembly election in a generation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a rally in Palakkad said, “Judas betrayed Christ for a few pieces of silver. LDF has betrayed Kerala for a few pieces of gold”.
“Judas betrayed Christ for a few pieces of silver. LDF has betrayed Kerala for a few pieces of gold,” says Modi in Palakkad, Kerala #KeralaElections2021 pic.twitter.com/5zHTm4Zlb8
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) March 30, 2021
The ‘gold’ jibe was a clear reference to the ongoing gold smuggling scam that has hit the embattled Communist Party. More names are emerging as the investigations into the case progress. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government under the leadership of Pinarayi Vijayan is already in a lot of trouble as fissures in the alliance are out in the open.
#WATCH | In Kerala's Palakkad, PM Modi says, "Judas betrayed Lord Christ for a few pieces of silver. LDF has betrayed Kerala for a few pieces of gold." pic.twitter.com/9C675xtzw3
— ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2021
The primary accused in the gold smuggling case Swapna Suresh, has also implicated the Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly P Sreeramakarishnan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the former Principal Secretary M Sivasankar in the case. She also alleged that the Speaker used to call her to his flat with “dirty intentions”.
Left and Congress’ betrayal on ‘Love Jihad’
However, referencing Judas − who, according to the followers of Jesus Christ betrayed their lord and saviour for 30 pieces of silver to the Romans leading to Christ’s crucifixion − will also likely be seen as the Left parties’ betrayal of the Kerala people regarding the social menace of “Love Jihad”. The Congress and the Left have always maintained silence and ignorance on this serious issue.
Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani recently said, “Love jihad has again come up as an issue. Society has apprehensions about it. As the issue has emerged again, the apprehensions about it should be cleared.”. Christian organisations supported his statement as well.
However, the Left and the Indian National Congress have said that the whole concept of ‘Love Jihad’ is bogus and is a ruse to divide the pluralistic community in Kerala and have branded Hindus as communal for raising the issue.
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