Questioning why right-wing outfits associate violence with a particular religion, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said that epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata proves that "even Hindus can be violent".

At an event in Bhopal Yechury said, "Ramayana and Mahabharata are also filled with instances of violence and battles. Being a pracharak (RSS functionaries) you narrate the epics but still claim Hindus can't be violent? What is the logic behind saying that there's a religion which engages in violence and we Hindus don't."