Headlines
CPI-M, SNDP spar in Kerala over political leanings
Kollam/Kannur (Kerala), Aug 9
Top leaders of
the CPI-M and the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, a
powerful social group of the Hindu Ezhava community in Kerala, exchanged
barbs on Sunday about the SNDP general secretary meeting BJP chief Amit
Shah.
The sparring between the two sides has been on since SNDP
general secretary Velapally Natesan and his team called upon BJP
national president Shah in New Delhi along with Kerala BJP leaders last
month.
The SNDP, founded by social reformer Sree Narayana Guru in
1903, is often referred to as the representative body of Kerala's
Ezhava community.
In the state, Hindus constitute over 50 percent
of the 3.25 crore population. In numbers, the Ezhava community is
slightly ahead of the Hindu Nair community.
Over the years, even
though SNDP has always claimed keeping equidistance from the rival
political fronts -- Left and the Congress-led UDF -- in the state, it is
common knowledge that a majority often used to throw their support
behind the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Democratic
Front.
On Sunday, Natesan, speaking at SNDP's general body
meeting in Kollam, however, targeted the CPI-M, saying no political
party should try to control SNDP.
"Nobody needs to have any
thoughts of controlling the SNDP, as it's not a feeder organisation of
any political party. The CPI-M thinks that they can deceive by
projecting themselves as the saviour of the oppressed. I don't
understand why some get restless when the truth is stated," he said.
On
his meeting with BJP president Shah in New Delhi, Natesan said BJP is
the party that rules the country and SNDP will meet anyone to ensure
that the community's interests are safeguarded.
CPI-M state
secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, however, maintained that it was the
CPI-M that has taken care of majority of the working class in the
traditional industries.
"While we took care of the working class,
he (Natesan) was looking after the welfare of the businessmen,"
Balakrishnan told reporters in Kannur district.
"In the best
interests of all, the present new-found relationship between the SNDP
and the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh) does not augur well. Natesan
should not work as a tool for the RSS in its aim to swallow the SNDP.
These two can never work together as they have different ideologies,"
said Balakrishnan.
The CPI-M is jittery because if the new-found
relationship between SNDP and the BJP-RSS combine gets going, the
biggest loser would be the CPI-M in Kerala, political cognoscenti aver.
"SNDP
can decide on the practises that their members should adopt and need
not impose political ideologies," said CPI-M central committee member
and former state finance minister Thomas Issac.