THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM acting state secretary A Vijayaraghavan repeated his allegation that the Congress-led UDF is keen on forging alliance with religious fundamentalists for temporary electoral gains. “During the local body poll, UDF allied with Jamaat-e-Islami. People rejected that combine. Still, in some panchayats Congress is ruling with the support of Jamaat members,” he told a news conference on Friday.
Vijayaraghavan’s insinuation about the discussion held between Congress leaders Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala and Muslim League leader Panakkad Hyderali Shihab Thangal at the latter’s residence had invited scathing criticism from UDF leaders. Vijayaraghavan on Friday claimed that he didn’t criticise the discussion between Congress and Muslim League but only raised questions regarding the UDF’s alliance with fundamentalist organizations.
“There are several examples of Congress promoting soft Hindutva. We heard about leaders, including ministers, fleeing Congress to join BJP in Puducherry the other day. In the local body poll, Congress had voted for BJP candidates. Strangely, Jamaat-e-Islami is approving that line. They are not a widely accepted organization among Muslim community members. Only Congress is aligning with them. We will continue to criticize this dangerous move,” said Vijayaraghavan.
He said forging a new fundamentalist alliance is not the way for fighting the agenda of division and hatred promoted by Sangh Parivar. “When we point out these, they (Congress) are accusing us of being communal,” he said. “When we ask why you forged an alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, they are not giving us an answer. When we ask why you transfer votes to BJP, there is no answer. We need answers as this is a dangerous political game,” he added.
Vijayaraghavan said CPM has always taken a stand against majority and minority communalism. “When BJP came to power, they scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. They passed the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act. It was CPM which took strong stand against such steps. When the PM laid foundation stone for Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, CPM criticised that too. In Kerala, what Pinarayi Vijayan government had tried was to mobilize support from all against CAA. And they call us communal,” he said.