Kannur, Oct 20 (NationPress) Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliates of attempting to manipulate the Sabarimala shrine's legacy into a significant political battleground by intentionally omitting critical aspects of its inclusive history.

During the inauguration of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Kannur district committee office, the Chief Minister highlighted that in the traditional narratives surrounding Sabarimala, Vavar, a Muslim warrior and devotee, occupies a crucial role alongside Lord Ayyappa.

“This tradition of inclusivity is something the RSS chooses to ignore. They are attempting to transform Sabarimala into a source of division and conflict,” Vijayan stated.

He claimed that the Sangh Parivar is unsettled by the inclusion of a Muslim figure in the Ayyappa tale.

“They question how a Muslim can feature in the Ayyappa narrative. But that’s the essence of Kerala’s culture—its capacity to embrace diversity,” he asserted.

Vijayan further cautioned that votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as mentioned by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, would eventually jeopardize Kerala’s pluralistic identity.

“Every vote cast for the BJP will only diminish the character of Kerala,” he remarked.

The Chief Minister's remarks were in response to Shah’s statements at a recent event organized by a prominent vernacular media group in Kochi.

Shah had proclaimed that the BJP aims to secure 25% of the vote in the local body elections and achieve a majority in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Vijayan insisted that Shah's comments should be taken seriously by the state.

Emphasizing Kerala's cultural and social framework, Vijayan stated that the RSS ideology is fundamentally at odds with the state’s traditions.

“If the hegemony of the RSS increases, our society cannot sustain itself in its current form. Onam will lose Mahabali if they prevail. They only desire Vamana,” he cautioned, asserting that Kerala’s plural identity is at risk if communal politics takes hold.

Vijayan’s comments come as the Kerala High Court has appointed an SIT team to investigate the Sabarimala gold scam, where one individual has already been arrested in connection with two FIRs naming ten accused persons.

Both the Congress and the BJP have called for an investigation by a national agency and have demanded the resignation of State Devasom Minister V.N. Vasavan and the members of the Travancore Devasom Board, a request that has been firmly rejected by the Vijayan government.