'Comrades enable BJP's growth in Kerala, Vellappally is the bridge': Muslim League busts CPM's secular claims
In an editorial published in IUML mouthpiece 'Chandrika' on Sunday, the party said that Vellappally acts as the bridge between the CPM and the BJP.
In an editorial published in IUML mouthpiece 'Chandrika' on Sunday, the party said that Vellappally acts as the bridge between the CPM and the BJP.
In an editorial published in IUML mouthpiece 'Chandrika' on Sunday, the party said that Vellappally acts as the bridge between the CPM and the BJP.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has poked at the secular credentials of the CPM, questioning party's closeness to Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan. In an editorial published in IUML mouthpiece 'Chandrika' on Sunday, the party said that Vellappally acts as the bridge between the CPM and the BJP.
The IUML's sharp riposte comes in response to a recent remark by Vellappally on attempts of the IUML to brand him anti-Muslim and communal. He has said that the IUML was focused on diverting benefits to Malappuram and that his criticism only aimed at the Muslim League not the community.
The editorial states that the CPM has enabled the growth of the BJP in Kerala and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has allied with Vellappally Natesan who spews venom to prevent flow of comrades to the BJP. "In areas where CPM commanded power, BJP grew with the support of the comrades. All of them are raring to be part of the BJP. This is the reason why Pinarayi finds company in Vellappally," the article reads.
The party's new line is to encourage communalism to retain power. Like John Brittas liaises with the centre for the Kerala government, Vellappally is the bridge between the CPM and the BJP, according to the editorial. The IUML has also lashed out at the CPM for registering a case against the makers of parody song 'Pottiye Kettiye'. CPM condones any kind of nonsense in the name of freedom of expression and now they want to take case against a song. The comrades are afraid of even a song these days, the editorial pointed out.
Following the setback in local body elections, it was assessed that the disillusionment of voters over CPM's image as a secular alternative led to consolidation of minority votes which blighted CPM's prospects. While the party launched a vehement assault on UDF's association with the Jamaat-e-Islami in the local body elections, the CPM leaders or Pinarayi Vijayan has not been critical of Natesan's blatantly communal remarks. Cornered over party's alienation from minority voters, Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said that protecting interests of the minority community was never aimed at electoral gains and that the CPM has always been at the forefront of the efforts to enable minorities live with pride.
Natesan had said that Kerala would be a Muslim-majority state in 40 years and that the governments have to rush to Malappuram to get consent for implementing policy decisions. The outrageous nature of his remarks had prompted IUML to dub Natesan as Kerala Togadia, a reference to Praveen Togadia, president, International Hindu Parishad, who had been embroiled in rows over hate speeches and anti-Muslim comments.
The UDF secured 38.81% of voteshare in local body elections. The BJP fell short of the expected 25% and ended up with 14.71% of votes. The CPM could win 7455 wards across all local bodies, while the Congress bagged 7817 seats.