Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary Binoy Viswam has asserted that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) respects genuine religious faith while taking an uncompromising stand against religious extremism.
Addressing the media here on Wednesday, he said the LDF would fully protect both minority and majority religious institutions, even as it firmly resists attempts to misuse religion for political gain.
“Religion and religious extremism are not the same,” Mr. Viswam said. “We respect religion, but we will not make even the slightest compromise with extremism.” Referring to the controversy surrounding Sabarimala, he said that if even a grain of gold had been taken by anyone, they must be punished. That, he said, was precisely why the government had not interfered in the special investigation team’s (SIT) probe. “Let the guilty be punished. Can the United Democratic Front (UDF) say the same with such clarity?” he asked.
Local body polls
Rejecting allegations against the Left, Mr. Viswam declared, “We are not thieves of God’s wealth.” He linked this credibility to the LDF’s victories in Guruvayur and Pandalam constituencies in the local body elections, expressing confidence that the next government too would be led by the LDF.
“The LDF is the political front that people look at with hope,” he said.
He launched a sharp attack on the National Democratic Alliamce (NDA) government at the Centre, accusing it of sustained financial hostility towards Kerala. “Driven by political vendetta, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government does not treat the LDF-ruled State as part of India. This is nothing short of a violation of the Constitution,” he said, adding that the Union Budget itself forces the country to seriously question where Kerala stands within the Indian Union.
Calling Vizhinjam a symbol of Kerala’s progress, Mr. Viswam said the State views the port as India’s gateway to the future. “There should have been a clear plan in the Budget to create national and international connectivity around Vizhinjam. There is not even a mention,” he noted.
He also criticised the Centre’s claims of presenting a ‘youth Budget’, pointing out that nearly 45% unemployment prevails in the country. “Despite calling it a youth-focussed Budget, there is nothing in it for young people. This is a Budget that sidelines farmers and workers,” he said.
On foreign policy and nationalism, Mr .Viswam said the BJP had forfeited the right to speak about patriotism. “The BJP’s policy today is to follow what U.S. President Donald Trump says. India has been mortgaged to Mr. Trump by the BJP,” he alleged. “Only Indians have the right to decide what is best for India. We know where to buy oil from—be it China, Venezuela, or anywhere else. No one needs to dictate that to us.”
‘Idea of Swaraj’
Highlighting the achievements of the LDF government in Kerala, he said it was a government that ensured basic needs for the people. “The LDF has translated Gandhi’s idea of Swaraj into practice,” he said, citing land distribution, housing, education, and quality healthcare as key achievements.
Taking a swipe at the UDF, he recalled that they once advocated closing schools that were financially unviable. “These are the same people who now claim they will turn everything into gold if they come to power,” he said sarcastically, adding that the LDF was well aware of the open and covert cooperation between the UDF and the NDA.
LDF Southern Region Vikasana Munnetta Jatha manager M. Swaraj and prominent LDF leaders were also present.
Published – February 04, 2026 08:18 pm IST
