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Alappuzha: Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan sparked controversy after calling a Kerala Muslim journalist a “terrorist” during a press interaction,
The remarks were directed at Rahees Rasheed, a Reporter TV journalist from Erattupetta, whom Vellappally claimed was a Muslim Students Federation (MSF) leader and was sent deliberately to the press meet.
Vellappally’s remarks came after he was provoked by a question Rahees had asked the previous day, following which Vellappally had pushed away the reporter’s microphone. The comments were made during a press conference convened to explain the microphone-pushing incident and related issues.
However, journalists present at the press conference questioned Vellappally’s reference to Rahees as a “terrorist,” asking whether the allegation was based on his name or whether Rahees had any proven links to extremist activities.
Vellappally responded by saying “yes” and asserted that he did not need to be questioned and that he would say what he wanted to say, adding that his remarks were based on his own experience.
Vellappally lashed out at the journalist who questioned him, asking who he was and warning him not to “show off” or “play games.” Pointing at the microphone, he asked whether he should throw it away and told journalists to speak with decorum.
He also said that he had “shown enough bravado elsewhere” and that there was no need to do so there, adding that journalists should simply listen to what he had to say. Saying that no one should try to “show their horns” there, Vellappally struck the reporter’s microphone again and remarked that these people were incapable of doing anything, no matter what they thought.
VD Satheeshan accuse CM Pinarayi Vijayan for shielding Vellappally
Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan on Friday accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of “using somebody else as his mouthpiece to create communal divide” in the State.
“The Chief Minister is behind such remarks aimed at creating communal divide,” alleged Satheesan when asked about the statement by Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan accusing the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) of allegedly trying to stoke communal hatred by portraying that Ezhavas were against Muslims.
