Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday extended his government’s support to writers, just days after novelist S Hareesh announced that was withdrawing his novel Meesha (Moustache) following threats from Hindutva groups.

Vijayan said his government protects writers’ freedom of expression and will not allow any attacks on them. “The government will not allow any infringement on their freedom of expression,” Vijayan said in a Facebook post. “Let the creativity flourish in an atmosphere without fear. There will be no compromise on anything that will crush it.”

The chief minister said Hareesh should continue writing boldly, for it will “serve as a reply to those who create controversy”. “Do not stop writing,” he told the writer. “Difficulties should be overcome by the strength of your literary creations.”

Former Kerala chief minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader VS Achuthanandan asked Hareesh to reconsider his decision. Writers M Mukundan, K Satchidanandan, Anita Nair, Unni R and KR Meera said intimidation of the novelist is a threat to freedom of expression, PTI reported.

The novel, which is set in Kerala’s social life of nearly 50 years ago, was being serialised in Malayalam weekly Mathrubhumi. Only three chapters have been published so far. The writer and his family members have allegedly been abused on social media after some Hindutva organisations accused the novelist of tarnishing the image of Hindu women.

These outfits held protest marches on Saturday. The groups have reportedly taken offence at a character’s sarcastic comments about the ban on women’s entry in temples during menstruation.