Kerala CM’s X Post on Assault of Priests in Odisha Sparks Online Debate

Kerala, August 9, 2025 – Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s recent post on social media platform X about the reported assault of Catholic priests and nuns from Kerala in Jaleswar, Odisha, has ignited a wave of online debate. Reactions ranged from defending religious rights to asserting cultural protection.

In his post, the Chief Minister wrote: “Reports of an assault on Keralite Catholic priests & nuns by Sangh Parivar goons in Jaleswar, Odisha, on false charges of religious conversion, reflect the ongoing communal witch-hunt against Christians in the country, exemplified by the arrest of nuns in Chhattisgarh weeks ago. Such Hindutva vigilantism, enabled by the regime’s impunity, must be unitedly resisted by secular & democratic forces.”

One user, stressing constitutional rights but cautioning on propagation, “Right to religion and religious propagation is a fundamental right. But propagation invites counter propagation and often violence. It will be better to limit the propagation among believers of the religion. Also Christian missionaries not working among poor Muslims but only among Hindus and Tribal people.”

Speaking of cultural preservation, another comment said, “Don’t send your crypto agents to Odisha. Here, the political regime has changed. We will deal with them our way to protect our Jagannath culture and Hindu civilization.”

Another user criticised the alleged attack remarking, “When murderers of Graham Staines and his kids are released and accorded a hero’s welcome by the BJP government in Orissa, it’s only natural that other goons follow the beaten path to fame! Like leader like followers in this ‘Modi’fied world,” citing a past case.

Another response stated, “Every time they enter the Odisha border they will be given same type of treatment by Hindus.” The remark warned of repeated hostility if such visits continued.

The online reactions to the Chief Minister’s statement underscore the sharp ideological divide in public discourse, where incidents of alleged religious violence become rallying points for both defence of faith and assertions of cultural identity.

Source: Pinarayi Vijayan's X account

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