Peravoor MLA Sunny Joseph
Credit: Facebook/Sunny Joseph
Thiruvananthapuram: A reported move by the centre to rename ‘Nehru Yuva Kendras’ (NYK) as 'Mera Yuva Bharat' has been strongly opposed by the Congress and left parties in Kerala.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph MLA said on Thursday that renaming of NYK was part of the Sangh Parivar’s attempt to establish a religious state. "An attempt is being made to denigrate our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and destroy his ideals and contributions to the country. No matter how history is edited or names changed, the name of the nation builder cannot be erased,” Joseph said.
CPM Rajya Sabha MP A A Rahim sent a letter to union minister for youth affairs Mansukh Mandaviya expressing strong objection to the decision to rename NYK. The Democratic Youth Federation of India also strongly opposed the move.
Rahim said that the move to rename Nehru Yuva Kerndra could be seen only as yet another renaming agenda of the BJP government at the centre. NYKSs established in 1972 has been playing a key role in mobilizing rural youth for the nation's development, he said.
Recently Kerala witnessed a major row over the move by the BJP ruled Palakkad municipality in Kerala to name a skill development centre after RSS founder leader K B Hedgewar. Congress and CPM are strongly protesting it.