Oommen Chandy takes exception to BJP state chief's remark

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today took exception to BJP state president Kummanon Rajasekharan's remarks on shops run by persons belonging to other religions near temples, saying it would create rift in the state's 'harmonious' society.

"The highly objectionable remarks made by the state president of BJP will only serve to create rifts in the harmonious society in Kerala," he said in a statement here.

"If there are practical difficulties due to the presence of shops run by people belonging to other religions, that will be looked into," he said.

CPI-M leader Pinarayi Vijayan also objected to the statement of the newly-appointed BJP chief during a meet-the-press on Saturday and alleged it was part of RSS agenda.

Meanwhile, Rajasekharan today made it clear that he had not made any objectionable remark about shops run by people belonging to other religions.

He said it was for the local committees of respective place of worship to take decision on matters like this. "It is an internal matter of respective committees," he said, adding "I have not said anything on it and will not."