Congress Kerala unit president K. Sudhakaran stirred up a political storm on Sunday after he allegedly misinterpreted the Ramayana, while comparing political leaders in northern and southern regions of the state. The Kannur MP later withdrew his remarks and tendered an apology, saying what he had said was a story prevalent in his native place.
In an interview to the New Indian Express, Sudhakaran was asked about how the politicians in south Kerala are different from those in Malabar (north Kerala) region. The Congress leader, who belongs to Kannur in Malabar, narrated a story about how Lakshmana thought of pushing Rama into the sea and stealing Sita, when their Pushpaka Vimana was flying over south Kerala, while returning from Lanka.
“But by the time he reached Thrissur (in central Kerala), there was a change of mind. He felt remorseful. Rama patted him on the shoulder and said, 'Yes, I read your mind. It’s not your fault. The fault lies with the land we covered…,'” the MP said.
As this portion of the interview became viral on social media platforms, members of the public and politicians alike questioned and criticised his remarks and interpretation of the Ramayana.
Sudhakaran came up with an explanation that it was a story which was prevalent in the Malabar region and he had grown up hearing the same.
"I just narrated a story that I had heard as a child. There was no other intention or aim to demean or insult anyone or divide the people. There was no malign interest behind it," he said. "If it has hurt anyone, I apologise," he added.
The BJP hit out at the Congress leader and asked Rahul Gandhi to remove him from the post of KPCC president. BJP state president K. Surendran said Sudhakaran's statements were extremely shameful and that he has insulted the people of the state.
Surendran also dismissed Sudhakaran's contention that what he said was a story prevalent in his native place, and said the Congress leader has insulted the Ramayana.
CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan said that every political party should try to unite the people and not divide them.
"We should seek to unite the people of the State and not divide it into 2-3 parts. That should be the endeavour of every political party," he said.
