KU Arunan, a CPI(M) legislator in Kerala, has got into trouble by inaugurating a programme organised by the RSS in his Irinjalakuda Constituency in Thrissur district. A local Congress leader also got into trouble by taking part in the same programme.
Arunan, a first-time MlA and member of the Irinjalak-uda area committee of the CPI(M), had last Monday inaugurated a function organised by the RSS Shakha at Oorakam in his Constituency for free distribution of books and other study materials to students. The function was held in connection with the death anniversary of an RSS functionary.
Arunan told the media that he had participated in the function without knowing that it was being organised by the RSS. “I was invited by someone who had introduced himself to me as Kishore, a branch secretary of the CPI(M). I don’t know all the party branch secretaries in the area personally,” he said.
“They had formed a committee for the programme and it was this committee that had invited me. Do you think I would go to a programme knowing that it was being organised by the RSSIJ I went there, did what I should have and left. I had spent a maximum of just two minutes there,” he added.
However, the party leadership refused to accept this justification as Arunan had lighted the traditional lamp, delivered the inaugural speech and distributed the study materials to students on a stage which had in its background a large board which announced that it was an RSS function and pictures of the Sangh’s founder leaders.
Arunan reached the CPI(M)’s district office on Wednesday and offered his explanation over the incident to the district leadership.