Another Jesus row hits CPI-M

Pakistan Telegraph (IANS) Sunday 5th February, 2012

Kerala's Marxists are in trouble again -- this time over a look alike picture of Jesus Christ's The Last Supper.

The Congress has hit out at the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) after the CPI-M's labour wing put up the controversial picture.

It showed US President Barack Obama in the centre of a supposed Last Supper flanked by 'disciples' Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, L.K. Advani and Oommen Chandy.

'They (CPI-M) say they have the highest regards for Christ. But they do all sorts of things which belittle Christ and Christianity,' Chandy said in Kottayam.

'The CPI-M should immediately apologise for the poster,' he said.

Spokesperson of the Synod of Catholic Bishops, Paul Thelekkat, said using The Last Supper to make a political point was wrong.

'The CPI-M has hurt the sentiments of believers,' he told reporters.

CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the party had no role in preparing the posters.

'This was not done by our party. When our party leaders came to know of this, they went to the place and removed them. It is not our policy to belittle Jesus or Christianity,' Vijayan said here.

Only last week the Congress condemned the CPI-M for using a Jesus Christ portrait at an exhibition as part of its state conference.'

The painting of Christ was placed along with Communist icons including Che Guevera at an exhibition titled 'Marx is Correct'.

Christians form 23 percent of the Kerala's 33 million people.