Opposition criticises Kerala Speaker for his ‘myth vs science’ remark

Heat is building up against Kerala Assembly Speaker and CPI(M) state committee member A N Shamseer over his reference to Lord Ganesh as myth. A week into BJP protesting against Shamseer, Hindu community organisation Nair Service Society (NSS) on Tuesday joined the issue urging all its units and followers to observe August 2 as the day for protection of faith.

While inaugurating a comprehensive education project in Ernakulam on July 21, Shamseer said science should be promoted in education to solve all present-day problems. “In medical science, plastic surgery is a new invention. But what is being taught is that plastic surgery existed from Hindutva days. It was Ganapati with a man’s body and elephant’s face. Instead of science, such myths are being promoted,’’ said Shamseer.

Advertisement

Deploring the statements of the Assembly speaker, BJP and its feeder outfits had conducted protests across Kerala and moved complaints with police against the CPI(M) leader.

In a letter sent to all its units on Tuesday, NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair said the statement that Ganesh is only a myth is really painful.

Putting the party’s weight behind Shamseer, CPI(M) Kannur district secretary M V Jayarajan said the Speaker has not insulted any religion or faith. “It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had delivered a speech to scientists … that plastic surgery existed in the past.Shamseer had stated that the argument of the Prime Minister was baseless. We are against promoting superstition,’’ said Jayarajan.