Mon May 19 10:35:15 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

CPI(M) Kerala secretary M.V. Govindan has defended rapper Vedan against criticism from the RSS, who accuse Vedan of inciting riots and promoting caste extremism. Govindan argues that Vedan’s music challenges caste oppression and reflects the struggles of marginalized communities. He dismisses the RSS’s understanding of art and their discomfort with Vedan’s popularity, which stems from Vedan’s challenge to the caste hierarchy. Govindan also addressed Vedan’s past ganja seizure case, stating that Vedan has admitted his mistake and the matter should be concluded.

**News Article:**

**CPI(M) Leader Defends Rapper Vedan Against RSS Criticism in Kerala**

Kannur, Kerala – May 19, 2025 – M.V. Govindan, the Kerala secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], has publicly defended rapper Vedan against staunch criticism from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The RSS had accused Vedan of inciting riots and promoting caste extremism through his music.

Govindan refuted these claims, asserting that Vedan’s art challenges caste oppression and resonates with the struggles of marginalized communities. He criticized the RSS’s understanding of art and questioned their motivations for attacking the rapper.

“Vedan is a pioneer of modern music,” Govindan stated. “His music reflects the life of a poor farmer or labourer living in slavery and it has immense power.” He added that the RSS’s discomfort stems from Vedan’s growing popularity and the challenge his work poses to the caste hierarchy, which the BJP, according to Govindan, “openly upholds through its endorsement of a chathurvarna system.”

The defense comes after RSS leader N.R. Madhu accused Vedan’s songs of “poisoning young minds with caste extremism and separatist ideology,” even going so far as to compare playing his music in temples to “allowing cabaret shows.”

Govindan also addressed Vedan’s past involvement in a ganja seizure case, stating that Vedan has acknowledged his mistake and the issue should be considered closed.

This clash highlights the ongoing cultural and ideological tensions within Kerala, as the CPI(M) defends artistic expression that challenges traditional social hierarchies against accusations of extremism and social disruption.

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