Communist government in Kerala gives permission to cook meat at sacred Hindu site
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India 
15 February, 2025
Case Summary
The Kerala Communist government, led by CM Pinarayi Vijayan, allowed non-vegetarian food to be cooked on Aattu Mandapam, a sacred site for the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple festival. The act, part of Kudumbashree's "Theerasamgamam" food festival, was seen as a blatant desecration of Hindu customs. Following widespread protests after Janam TV exposed the incident on February 16, 2025, temple authorities and BJP leaders intervened, halting the cooking. Temporary toilets set up near the Mandapam were later demolished by police, but no action was taken against those responsible. Hindu groups, including the Kerala Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti and VHP, condemned the act as a deliberate insult to Hindu traditions, enabled by the Communist regime's anti-Hindu stance. Critics argue this was part of a larger pattern of government-backed attacks on Hindu beliefs, from interfering in temple administration to favouring Waqf claims over Hindu land rights. The Communist regime has repeatedly disrespected Hindu traditions while appeasing minority groups for political gain. This latest act at Aattu Mandapam also shows the systematic targeting of Hindu customs under Communist rule.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the first sub-category selected is- Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. Icons and symbols or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal are widely revered in Hinduism. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations, is driven by animosity towards the faith itself which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. The second sub-category under which this case has been placed is- Defiling religious customs. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. There are several such customs and traditions that are followed by various Hindus and Hindu sects. Defiling of these traditions and customs is a breach of an individual or group’s religious practices. Such practices can range from dietary restrictions like not eating non-vegetarian food for a certain period of the year, not eating non-vegetarian food at all, not eating beef since the cow is considered holy in Hinduism, the sanctity of religious customs followed in the house (like many ISCKON devotees), etc. Any malicious action leading to the breach of such traditions or defilement of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the religion itself but also from disregard for the faith of the devotees who follow the customs/traditions and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific sect of Hindus, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The third sub-category chosen is- Breaking rules of place of worship. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. One of these oral traditions or written traditions is the rules of specific temples. Certain temples have rules which are traditional rules, dependent on the worship of the presiding deities. These rules and traditions have been followed for thousands of years whether they find scriptural mention or not. Such traditions are based on the nature and rules of worship of the presiding deity of that temple. Any non-compliance of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the presiding deity but also disregard for the faith of the devotees of that deity/temple and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition and the deity itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific temple and presiding deity, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The Kerala Communist government’s decision to allow non-vegetarian food to be cooked on Aattu Mandapam, a sacred site for the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple festival, constitutes a deliberate violation of Hindu customs and is a clear act of religious desecration. The act, done under the guise of a food festival, was not merely an administrative oversight but rather a systematic attempt to degrade Hindu religious sentiments. Moreover, the construction of temporary toilets near the sacred site adds to the insulting nature of the act, further defiling the religious environment. It is important to note here that the Communist government in Kerala, led by CM Pinarayi Vijayan, has displayed such anti-Hindu sentiment on various occasions in the past. One of the most notable examples is the government’s interference in temple administration, where Hindu temples are placed under state control while churches and mosques remain autonomous. The Sabarimala controversy is another glaring instance, where the LDF government aggressively pushed for the violation of temple traditions, allowing the entry of women of restricted age groups despite massive protests from devotees. Additionally, the state’s leniency towards Waqf Board claims over Hindu temple lands and the diversion of temple funds for non-religious purposes and even for pilgrimages of devotees of other religions further expose its discriminatory approach. The banning of Hindu festivals like Thrissur Pooram during COVID-19, while allowing Muslim and Christian gatherings, also highlights the double standards at play. These incidents form a consistent pattern of the Communist regime’s hostility towards Hinduism while appeasing minority communities for political gains. This latest act at Aattu Mandapam is not an isolated event but part of a larger pattern of state-sponsored religious discrimination against Hindus. By repeatedly attacking Hindu customs while appeasing minorities, the Communist government has fostered an environment of institutionalised hostility towards Hinduism. The deliberate violation of sacred spaces and disrespect for Hindu beliefs constitute a hate crime, reinforcing the pattern of anti-Hindu policies under Communist rule in Kerala.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
State and Establishment
Perpetrators Range
N/A
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
