Kerala: Nair Service Society Observes 'Faith Protection Day' In Protest Against Speaker AN Shamseer's Remarks On Lord Ganesha

The Nair Service Society (NSS) is observing 2 August as 'Faith Protection Day', to protest against Kerala Assembly Speaker AN Shamseer's remarks on Lord Ganesha at an event in a government school in Ernakulam.

It has asked all its members to visit Ganesha temples today.

G Sukumaran Nair, the general secretary of the organisation said that Shamseer's remarks had crossed all limits and could not be justified.

Further, he said that faith is above science and Shamseer should apologise or the state government should take action against him.

He also thanked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its support to the NSS on the issue.

He also made similar remarks with regards to the pushpaka vimana used by Ravana, saying that they wanted students to believe it was the first aircraft, instead of teaching them about the Wright brothers.

The BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Hindu Aikyavedi have also protested against the remarks and said that it was untenable for him to continue in his position. They also said that Shamseer had selectively targeted Hinduism and did not speak about other religions.

The CPI(M) has stood by Shamseer and said that he need not apologise or resign from his post.

BJP Kerala state president K Surendran said that the CPI(M) was supporting Shamseer's anti-Hindu remarks with an eye on votes from sympathisers of the now banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).