KPCC chief K Sudhakaran’s alleged “pro-RSS” remarks continued to create ripples in Kerala politics on Tuesday as the Indian Union Muslim League, one of the key allies of the Congress-led UDF, said they would hold the next front meeting. I will raise this issue. ,
Meanwhile, the ruling CPI(M) alleged that the remarks were part of efforts to forge a settlement with the right-wing outfit and the BJP.
Amid increasing criticism from IUML and the Marxist party, the Congress declared that it would never dilute or compromise its secular position and that the party would only go on to maintain Nehruvian ideologies in the southern state.
Reacting to the controversy, BJP state president K Surendran said Congress leaders and workers were “insecure” and Sudhakaran’s statements reflect the ‘uncertainty’ in their mind and emotions.
Though he said he was not inviting the PCC chief to the BJP, the leader said the saffron party was the only option for Congress leaders and its workers as it would be finished forever in the country by the next Lok Sabha elections.
Rejecting the BJP president’s statement that his mind is with the saffron party, the KPCC president issued a statement terming it as ‘idiocy’ and said those who heard it probably haven’t stopped laughing yet.
“Surendran’s folly of inviting Congress workers to the BJP has been rejected with contempt,” he said.
In the statement, he accused both the BJP and the CPI(M) of “shaking hands” and campaigning against him by canvassing parts of his speech.
Sudhakaran on Monday said India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru was a great leader who had shown his “generousness” to include RSS leader Syama Prasad Mookerjee in his cabinet.
The Congress leader recently courted controversy by saying that when he was part of the Congress (organisation) decades ago, he had sent his men to “protect” some RSS shakhas in the state.
Expressing displeasure over the remarks, IUML general secretary PMA Salam said such statements would divert attention from the real issues facing the people of the state and hinder steps to strengthen the opposition front.
He also said that his party would strongly raise the issue in the next meeting of the UDF.
“We believe that Sudhakaran’s statements have caused damage to the UDF. IUML wants the UDF to be strong and united in the state. We have no option but to say that such unnecessary statements will hinder efforts to strengthen the UDF.”
Noting that IUML has a clear stand on such issues, he said they would raise it at relevant platforms within the UDF.
Criticizing Sudhakaran for his alleged “pro-RSS” remarks, CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan alleged that he had earlier tried to portray Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as a man aligned with fascist forces.
He said the KPCC chief tried to list the names of Congress leaders after Nehru, who had reportedly called for a settlement with the right-wing organisation.
Speaking at a function here, he said the picture of the Congress party, which is deliberately trying to compromise with the RSS, was exposed by Sudhakaran’s statement.
Govindan also said that it is the responsibility of other alliance partners in UDF like IUML and RSP to clarify their stand on the leader’s statement.
BJP state chief Surendran, however, criticized IUML’s statement against Sudhakaran, saying it was an attempt to leave the UDF and join hands with the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF in the name of ‘pro-RSS’ remarks. was doing.
He also accused the IUML of imposing its hegemony on the UDF and said upper caste Congress leaders were also facing similar threats and criticism.
Who was the IUML to decide what Congress leaders should speak? He asked.
“Congress leaders are feeling insecure not only in Kerala but across India. Many PCC chiefs and prominent party leaders have already joined the BJP. How long can they do politics under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi?”
Surendran also said that if his party had power in the southern state, more Congress leaders would have already joined the BJP.
However, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly VD Satheesan dismissed the criticism and said the Congress would never be willing to compromise or dilute its secular status.
He said that the Congress would take forward the Nehruvian ideology in the state and this was also decided in the recent Chintan Shivir.
The LOP said the Congress and the UDF were the first parties and fronts in history to dare to declare that they do not need any communal votes.
Sudhakaran made controversial remarks against Nehru while addressing the Children’s Day event organized by the Kannur DCC to celebrate Nehru’s birth anniversary, days after revealing that he provided security to RSS ‘shakhas’, troubling the Muslim League Was.
Adding to the Congress party’s woes, former KPCC vice-president and senior Congress leader CK Sreedharan quit the party on Tuesday to protest Sudhakaran’s recent remarks on the RSS.
read all latest politics news Here