Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 7 (PTI): The Kerala CPM has come under fire for presenting a tableau that showed social reformer Sree Narayana Guru being crucified.

Pictures of the procession, organised by party children's wing Balasangham in Kannur on Saturday, have gone viral on the social media.

"Besides depicting Sree Narayana as fixed to a cross, his well-known message - "one caste, one religion and one God for mankind" - was also distorted," said the general secretary of the Sree Narayana Dhrama Paripalana Yogam.

The Yogam, founded by the 19th-century reformer, is a prominent social organisation of the powerful Ezhava community.

CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has denied any insult to Narayana Guru.

Hundreds of Yogam activists protested here last night accusing the CPM of having "insulted" Narayana Guru.

The procession has itself triggered a controversy as it is being seen as part of Janmashtami celebrations by an avowedly atheistic and secular party.

Some of the processions had also dressed up young boys and girls as Krishna and his gopikas, drawing criticism.