Reports of CPI(M) forming temple committee baseless, says Jayarajan

Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader P. Jayarajan has dismissed as “completely false” reports published by several media organisations claiming that the party had constituted a committee under his leadership to strengthen its influence in temples across Kerala.

In a detailed statement, Mr. Jayarajan said the reports, which appeared in multiple media outlets carrying similar wording and headlines, were part of a “deliberate misinformation campaign“ with no connection to any decision taken by the CPI(M). He said the party had neither formed such a committee not assigned him any State-level responsibility related to temple affairs.

“Reports claiming that the CPI(M) has constituted a committee to take control of temples and that I have been given State-level responsibility are entirely fabricated. No such decision has been taken by the party,” he said.

Mr. Jayarajan alleged that identical reports circulating across different websites and news channels reflected an organised attempt to spread disinformation against the party. He described the development as the latest series of “manufactured falsehoods” targeting the CPI(M).

He said the CPI(M), as one of the country’s major Left parties, had consistently expressed its views on social and political developments and had a clear understanding of how to engage with issues affecting different sections of society. According to him, places of worship belong to believers, and the party has repeatedly maintained that devotees should manage temple affairs.

At the same time, Mr. Jayarajan accused communal organisations of attempting to gain control over places of worship for political purposes. He said he had consistently written and spoken against such efforts and alleged that this criticism had prompted those behind the misinformation campaign to target him with fabricated reports.

He further alleged that the RSS and the Sangh Parivar were attempting to mislead devotees and exploit temples for organisational interests. On the controversy over the Ram temple in Ayodhya, he accused the Sangh Parivar of using religious institutions for political and financial gains.