Satheesan accuses CM Vijayan of attempting to favour Sangh Parivar

Sivagiri (Kerala), PTI: Congress leader V D Satheesan on Wednesday criticised the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s statement on Sanatana Dharma, alleging that it was an attempt to make Sanatana Dharma exclusive to the Sangh Parivar. “Sanatana Dharma is a cultural heritage. It encompasses Advaita, Tat Tvam Asi, the Vedas, the Upanishads, and their essence. Claiming that all of this belongs to the Sangh Parivar is misleading,” Satheesan told reporters after addressing a programme organised as part of the Sivagiri pilgrimage here.

Addressing the Sivagiri pilgrimage conference on Tuesday, Vijayan had cautioned against “organised efforts” to portray sage and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, who advocated “one caste, one religion, and one God for people,” as a proponent of Sanatana Dharma. He stated that Sanatana Dharma is nothing but varnashrama dharma (a castebased social order), which Guru had challenged and overcome.

Reacting to Vijayan’s statement, Satheesan said it was akin to saying that everyone who goes to a temple, applies sandalwood paste, or wears saffron is part of the RSS. “Handing over Sanatana Dharma and its legacy to the Sangh Parivar is incorrect. What the Chief Minister said is wrong,” the Leader of the Opposition said. He noted that, like in all religions, priesthood, monarchies, and ruling systems in Hinduism had also been misused.

“We do not support the varna-ashrama or chaturvarnya system. Even Sree Narayana Guru has explained the essence of Sanatana Dharma in detail. It is not right to dismiss it entirely or claim that it exclusively belongs to the Sangh Parivar,” Satheesan said.