Kerala Left fault lines widen over Viswam–Natesan war of words
The feudal and fascist characters of the CPI were exposed on Friday by Vellappally Natesan, general secretary, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, an umbrella organization of the politically powerful Eezhava community in Kerala.
Reacting to the statement made by Binoy Viswam, the Kerala secretary of the CPI, that he would not touch Natesan with the barge of a pole, the SNDP Yogam general secretary said on Friday that it exposes the untouchability practiced by Viswam.
Viswam made the controversial statement while speaking to reporters on Thursday. Referring to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan offering a lift to Natesan in his official car some time ago, Viswam said that had he been in the chief minister’s shoes, he would not have allowed Natesan anywhere near his car.
But Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, a bête noire of Viswam, retorted by evening that he was not Binoy Viswam and the latter can never be Vijayan. Viswam is known for his hatred towards Vijayan and other CPI(M) leaders and does not waste a chance to poke fun at them.
Natesan had said at Sivagiri that the CPI were cheats who had enjoyed the fruits of power for the last decade. “The result of the election held in the Local Self Government Institutions was against the CPI(M)-led front, and the CPI is on the lookout for an excuse to defect to the UDF. The CPI itself is responsible for the defeat of the LDF in the poll as it had made a controversy over the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kerala and the union ministry of human resources for implementing the PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India), a state-of-the-art education scheme making it accessible to students from lower strata of society,” said Natesan.
The resistance and public stance of the CPI over the issue made the CPI(M) make a volte face and declare that the Kerala government would not pursue the scheme. Natesan said this issue could have been discussed in the cabinet meeting and a decision taken, rather than airing dirty laundry in public. Natesan repeated the allegation that there was a discrepancy in allocating aided schools and colleges to various communities. “In Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts, where Muslims constitute a vast majority of the population, all educational institutions were allocated to them. The Hindus were denied permission to launch schools and colleges,” said Natesan.
He also accused the Muslim League of mixing religion with politics to get undue advantages from the government of the day. “The Islamic extremist elements in the media are tarnishing my image by publicizing lies and defamatory articles,” he said. Natesan also pointed out that the backward community is the backbone of the Left movements in the State.
Referring to Viswam’s accusations against Natesan, Chief Minister Vijayan said that the SNDP chief was known to him for decades, and he always took into consideration what the latter told him about social, political, and economic issues.
M V Govindan, CPI(M) Kerala secretary, too scoffed at the allegations and charges made by Viswam against Natesan. “Natesan is a community leader who is widely respected in Kerala. We always value the comments and opinions made by him. Nobody can call him a communalist or casteist,” said Govindan while asked about the outbursts of Binoy Viswam.
The ire of Binoy Viswam against Natesan is on account of the open statements made by the latter while referring to Christian and Islamic religious leaders. Viswam, who rates himself as Kerala’s Maha Kavi, is a neo convert to Christianity and is under the control of pastors and evangelists in the State, according to party colleagues.It is rumored that his poem “Fidel”, written as an elegy to Fidel Castro, the Cuban leader, caused the latter to turn in his grave.
The CPI Kerala State secretary is one of the leading advisors to Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Considered the global face of Communist movements, Viswam’s opinions are sought by communist parties in Russia, China, Cuba, and even Vietnam.
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