New Delhi: Amid ongoing controversy over his recent remarks on Lord Ganesha, Kerala Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer on Wednesday said that he never intended to hurt the sentiments of any religion, and called the incident "very unfortunate", reported news agency PTI.
During an event organised at a school in Ernakulam district recently, Shamseer had allegedly accused the Centre of trying to teach children Hindu myths instead of accomplishments in science and technology.
The Speaker had said that Lord Ganesha was a myth and the belief had no scientific basis. His statement stirred up the political waters in the state.
While speaking to reporters at the media room of the Legislative Assembly complex, the Speaker said that during his recent speech, he had in his capacity of a constitutional post urged to promote scientific temper and shot back stating no one has the right to question his secular credentials.
"To be honest..to be frank...I am not a person who hurts the sentiments of any religion," he said, reported PTI.
Shamseer said the devotees and religious believers know very well that he didn't hurt their faith or sentiments. "I never intended to hurt sentiments of any religion... What is going on in the state over the matter is very unfortunate," he said.
When asked about the protests organised by NSS, the influential organisation of the forward Nair community in the state, the Speaker said as an organisation they have the right to protest on any issue.
The BJP and right-wing outfits like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have already launched a campaign against Shamseer, saying they are aggrieved over the Speaker's remarks regarding Lord Ganesha and the mythical 'pushpaka vimanam'.
Meanwhile, the ruling CPI(M) strongly condemned the campaign by the Sangh Parivar against Shamseer and said that he will not apologise for his remarks.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters AKG Centre, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said there was no need for any apology or issuing a correction in connection with the statement by Shamseer.
“What Shamseer said was entirely correct,” he added.