Communist Party of India (CPI) State Secretary Binoy Viswam said that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) respects genuine religious faith while taking an uncompromising stand against religious extremism.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, he said the LDF would fully protect both minority and majority religious institutions, even as it firmly resisted attempts to misuse religion for political gain.
“Religion and religious extremism are not the same thing,” Vishwam said. “We respect religion, but we will not make the slightest compromise with extremism.” Referring to the Sabarimala controversy, he said if anyone took even a grain of gold, they must be punished. This, he said, was precisely the reason why the government did not interfere in the investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). “Let the culprits be punished. Can the United Democratic Front (UDF) say the same with such clarity?” he asked.
Local opinion polls
Mr. Viswam rejected the allegations against the Left, saying, “We are not thieves of God’s wealth.” He linked this credibility with the LDF’s victories in Guruvayur and Pandalam constituencies in the local body elections and expressed confidence that the next government would also be led by the LDF.
“The LDF is a political front that people look to with hope,” he said.
At the Centre, he launched a scathing attack on the National Democratic Alliamce (NDA) government, accusing it of persistent financial hostility towards Kerala. “The political vendetta-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is not treating the LDF-ruled state as a part of India. This is nothing but a violation of the Constitution,” he said, adding that the Union Budget itself is making the country seriously question where Kerala stands within the Indian Union.
Calling Vizhinjam a symbol of Kerala’s progress, he said the state sees 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 no mention of it,” he observed.
He also criticized the Centre’s claim of presenting a “youth budget” and pointed out that nearly 45% unemployment prevailed in the country. “Despite calling it a youth budget, there is nothing for the youth in it. This is a budget that sidelines farmers and workers,” he said.
On foreign policy and nationalism, Mr. .Viswam said the BJP has lost the right to talk about patriotism. “BJP’s policy today is to follow what US President Donald Trump says. India has been pawned by BJP to Mr. Trump,” he claimed. “Only Indians have the right to decide what is best for India. We know where to buy oil – be it China, Venezuela or anywhere else. No one needs to dictate it to us.”
“Idea of Swaraj”
Highlighting the achievements of the LDF government in Kerala, he said that it is the government that provides 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 look at the UDF, he recalled that they once advocated the closure of schools that were financially unviable. “These are the same people who now claim that if they come to power, they will turn everything into gold,” he said sarcastically, adding that the LDF was well aware of the open and covert collaboration between the UDF and the NDA.
LDF Southern Region Manager Vikasana Munnetta Jatha M. Swaraj and prominent LDF leaders were also present.
Published – 04 Feb 2026 20:18 IST