Kollam: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that there was a conscious effort to prevent the young generation from thinking logically. He was addressing Kerala Science Congress here on Saturday.

“Even academicians are claiming that there is scientific evidence to prove incidents portrayed in Ramayana and Mahabharata,” said the Chief Minister.

He condemned the beliefs of Akshayathrithiya, magical amulet (elassu), removal of evil spirits and computer horoscope etc.

“Some people are selling ‘magical rings’ to students by promising them high scores in exams. Logical thinking and science consciousness are disappearing from the society,” he added.

He noted that people of Kerala were open to innovative ideas and welcomed all experiments. It helped the state reach the top of development index of health and education.

However, our refusal to heed to blind faith, determination to seek proof and excitement to experiment have become stories of the past, he added.

People with scientific temper is the asset of a country. Only they can lead the country towards development. This recognition influenced Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to organise Science Congress. His successor Indhira Gandhi made scientific temper a duty of the citizen, said the minister.

He criticised the statements claiming that Kauravas were the first test tube babies, Karna’s birth was an example of genetics and Ganapathy was proof that plastic surgery existed. Don’t misunderstand that these statements are made by ignorant people. It is a conscious effort to prevent the young generation from thinking logically.