Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today commended his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan for "successfully confronting all those forces" trying to divide people in the name of caste and religion.
Inaugurating a cultural festival jointly organised by the two states here, Kejriwal said the situation demanded unity among parties to fight the forces polarising the society.
He did not name any individual or party, nor said who he was referring to. But the Kerala chief minister and the BJP have been accusing each other of unleashing political violence against the workers of the other party in the southern state.
"I salute the Kerala CM for confronting all those forces that are trying to divide people. Our strength is our unity in diversity. No one likes hatred. We are people who support love and like to live in harmony," Kejriwal said.
Vijayan said this was a "time in which those speaking truth are targeted", referring to the killings of activist- journalist Gauri Lankesh in September and rationalist M M Kalburgi in August 2015.
More than 40 percussionists performed the 300-year-old art form Chenda melam at the cultural event. The chief guests were welcomed with Theyyam - a popular ritual dance form of North Malabar in Kerala. Scores of people attended the event.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said though politically and geographically both the states were separated, culturally both were alike.
"With this event we have to show the unity. I do not believe in one nation, one tax, but I do believe in one nation, one culture," Sisodia said.
The Kerala Delhi Cultural Heritage Fest, an initiative of Kerala government under Cultural Exchange Programme, would continue for two more days in Connaught Place, NDMC Hall, and the Kerala House.
Kejriwal said the Delhi government would organise a similar event in Kerala in February next year.
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