CMs of Kerala, Delhi caution people against destructive forces

New Delhi : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday warned people against the forces trying to destroy the country's diversity and exhorted them to fight them.

They were speaking after inaugurating a three-day 'Kerala Delhi Cultural Heritage Festival', to be held at three main venues in central Delhi -- Central Park, Kerala House and NDMC Hall. 

The festival, organised by the Kerala government with the support of the Delhi government, includes cultural programmes, exhibitions, film festival and competitions on the history and culture of Kerala.

The Kerala Chief Minister said some people were trying to "misinterpret Indian culture to say that it emerged from one particular religion and trying to reject contributions made by other religions".

"Our right to decide what to see, hear, and enjoy is now being chained," Vijayan said.

Kejriwal said some forces were trying to destroy the nation and congratulated Vijayan for "opposing these forces" in Kerala.

"This is Mahatma Gandhi's and Lord Buddha's nation... and we have to come together to fight these forces," he said.

Kerala Culture Minister A.K. Balan said they welcomed a proposal to set up a Malayalam Academy in Delhi to promote the language.

Exhibitions by the Kerala Archaeology and Museums Departments apart from literary programmes will be part of the festival.

Four months ago, a similar festival was organised by the Kerala government in Telangana.