Author: C. Gouridasan Nair
Publication: The Hindu
Date: October 7, 2002
URL: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/10/07/stories/2002100704930400.htm
Who is afraid of Vellappally Natesan?
The question has suddenly acquired sharp edge in Kerala with the Natesan-led
SNDP Yogam deciding to hold anti-CPI(M) dharna at 100 centres in the State
on October 11.
Mr. Natesan has already taken his
battle with the CPI(M) to the rival territory by unleashing scores of paid
`organisers' into the Communist-dominated Malabar region to woo Ezhavas
to the Yogam fold. That their activities have touched off a churning in
a region is evident from the angry reaction from the CPI(M) cadres and
leaders to their efforts at forming new units of the Yogam in the area.
Both the Sree Narayana Jayanti and
Sree Narayana Samadhi observances in Malabar have been marred by attacks
on Yogam activists, allegedly by CPI(M) workers. The October 11 dharna
could well result in the CPI(M)- Natesan spat spreading to the southern
districts. The CPI(M) leadership has already come out in very strong terms
against the dharna plan and urged the Yogam cadres not to participate in
the dharna. The CPI(M) State secretariat has called upon its workers to
respond to the `arrogance' of the Yogam with restraint, and the possibility
of isolated skirmishes cannot be ruled out.
The CPI(M) leadership has decided
to play it cool because it knows full well that what Mr. Natesan wants
is an open confrontation. He has been trying to provoke the CPI(M) cadres
by questioning their party's commitment to the cause of the backward communities
and accusing it of having pandered to the interests of the politically
influential Christian community. With the Sangh Parivar offering silent
support, Mr. Natesan's strategy is paying off in unseen ways.
To the Sangh Parivar, nothing could
be more heartening than chinks in the CPI(M)'s strangle hold in the Ezhava
community. It has been trying hard to wean the community away from the
thrall of the Communist movement in general and the CPI(M) in particular.
Mr. Natesan's emergence as the unquestioned leader of the SNDP Yogam has
come in handy for the Sangh Parivar because his interests are not limited
to the Ezhava community. He has a business empire to support his community
welfare activities.
The CPI(M) State secretariat has
already alluded to Mr. Natesan's personal stakes in keeping the RSS-BJP
forces in good humour and alleged that the October 11 dharna is meant to
secure personal benefits from the Central and State Governments. But the
sad part of the story is that the CPI(M) has not so far been able to rally
vocal sections of the Ezhava community. It could not do so because it has
been trying alternatively to woo Mr. Natesan to its side or, failing which,
to run him down. Neither strategy has worked and no opinion leader within
the community has so far come out to defend the CPI(M) against Mr. Natesan's
harangues.
What is worse, the Yogam president,
C.K. Vidyasagar, has made withdrawal of the October 11 dharna conditional
upon the CPI(M) publicly apologising for the `desecration' of the Guru's
statues in North Malabar and initiation of action against the CPI(M) workers
who, he has alleged, were responsible for it and the related violence.
On its part, the CPI(M) has been trying to dub the incidents in North Malabar
as `isolated and of no consequence'. That being the case, it is unlikely
to oblige Mr. Vidyasagar. So, it is going to be a prolonged brawl, whether
the CPI(M) wants it or not.
