Story perspectives

CPM Leader’s “Fundamentalists” Remark Spurs Kerala Police Case

By Drooid · Oct 4, 2026, 5:12 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader P Nandakumar allegedly called Malappuram district a “nest of fundamentalists and communalists” on Saturday.
Kerala chief minister V D Satheesan condemned the remarks as communal slurs and demanded an apology from Nandakumar and the CPM.
Police will register a case after examining video footage following Muslim Youth League’s complaint against Nandakumar at Ponnani police station.

History

Historical Context

On 6 December 1992, a rally of roughly 150,000 VHP and BJP supporters demolished the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, sparking riots that killed over 2,000 people and prompting the Liberhan Commission to charge 68 senior Hindu-nationalist leaders. Today, CPI(M) leader P. Nandakumar’s description of Kerala’s Malappuram district as a “nest of fundamentalists” echoes the communal rhetoric that followed the Ayodhya incident.

1 of 2

Story summary

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader P Nandakumar allegedly called Malappuram district a “nest of fundamentalists and communalists” on Saturday.
Kerala chief minister V D Satheesan condemned the remarks as communal slurs and demanded an apology from Nandakumar and the CPM.
Police will register a case after examining video footage following Muslim Youth League’s complaint against Nandakumar at Ponnani police station.

1 / 2