New Delhi: Amid controversy over portrayal of religious figures by the Left in Kerala, CPI (M) on Monday said Jesus Christ and the Buddha had played a "progressive role" in the society in the concrete situations prevailing during their
times.
"They (Christ and the Buddha) had played a progressive role in the concrete situations prevailing during their times," CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.
He was asked about the display of a painting of Christ alongside Communist icons at an exhibition in Kerala and a billboard carrying a political spoof on Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece 'The Last Supper'.
The billboard, depicting US President Barack Obama at a table along with senior Congress and BJP leaders, was titled 'The Last Supper of Capitalism'.
Yechury said while there was no intention to belittle the ideals of Christ or the Buddha, they had played a positive role during their times.
PTI
First Published: Monday, February 06, 2012, 15:26