'Revolutionary songs' glorifying CPI (M) at Kerala temple festival: Singer Aloshi Adams says he was catering to audience requests

TOI City Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 4, 2025, 11:34 IST

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Singer Aloshi Adams faces legal action for performing "revolutionary songs" at a temple festival, citing audience requests. Despite no prior restrictions, the songs displayed CPI(M) affiliation, leading to FIR registration under religious misuse acts. Complainants demand accountability from temple officials.

'Revolutionary songs' glorifying CPI (M) at Kerala temple festival: Singer Aloshi Adams says he was catering to audience requests

KOLLAM: Singer Aloshi Adams, against whom a case has been registered for performing "revolutionary songs" extolling the CPI(M) during a recent temple festival in the district, reaffirmed on Friday that he was merely fulfilling audience requests and maintained that the matter needn't be contentious.
Adams is listed as the primary accused in the case alongside two unnamed individuals, purportedly members of the temple advisory committee.
The vocalist indicated his unfamiliarity with the case particulars, stating he learned of the FIR registration through media coverage.
"As I said earlier, the songs were sung on audience request. I have sung revolutionary songs at temple events in the past also," he said.

He clarified that the festival organisers had not provided any guidelines regarding song selection or restrictions during the event.
Adams described the situation as "unexpected" and stated his intention to address it through legal channels.
The complainant, Vishnu Sunil, who had petitioned the Kerala High Court regarding revolutionary songs performed at the Kadakkal Temple festival on March 10, expressed dissatisfaction with the police response.
Sunil confirmed that he had filed complaints both with the High Court and the Kadakkal police station seeking action.
He pointed out that the FIR was registered under the Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, which holds temple management personnel accountable for such occurrences.
The festival organisers, including the temple advisory committee's president and members, along with the Devaswom assistant commissioner and sub group officer, ought to have been designated as primary defendants in this matter.
"However, as part of an agenda to weaken the case, the singer was made the first accused. His songs were in violation of the earlier High Court orders, but the first accused ought to have been the Devaswom Assistant Commissioner or the temple advisory committee president," he said.
He said that he has given a complaint to the DGP of Kerala to include the temple advisory committee members and the Devaswom officials as accused in the case.
The issue emerged at the Kadakkal Temple festival when Adams performed "revolutionary songs", including a tribute to Puthukudi Pushpan, who survived the 1994 Koothuparamba police firing and was a CPI(M) worker.
The presence of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and CPI(M) flags and symbols in the background during the event led to legal proceedings.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that the display of DYFI and CPI(M) flags and symbols, coupled with the performance of "revolutionary songs", contravened regulations against using political symbols and ideologies at temple festivals.
The FIR documents that the primary accused, Aloshi, raised slogans including "Inquilab Zindabad, DYFI Zindabad, and CPI(M) Zindabad," whilst other accused individuals supported this action.
Following widespread criticism from the Congress-led UDF regarding the incident, the TDB has initiated a vigilance investigation.

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