Muslim organizations step up attack on NSS, Nair-Ezhava unity

Muslim organizations in Kerala have lashed out at NSS and Nair-Ezhava  unity in Kerala. The latest round of criticisms is sharp and pin points NSS General secretary G Sukumaran Nair.

Popular Front of India was the first to air vehement attack on NSS. At their recent meeting organized at Thiruvananthapuram, Popular Front leaders said Nair-Ezhava Unity is the result of a conspiracy. Their leaders also complained that present Muslim League leadership in Kerala is too weak in their response to statements of Sukumaran Nair  and Vellappally Natesan criticizing minorities. They noted that a new generation who can take on such criticisms is growing up and leadership of Muslim community would be with them in the coming decade. According to them, Muslim League will slowly disintegrate in the coming days.

Later, Popular Front former chairman E M Abdul Rahman at Doha said the slogan of ‘Unity of Majority Community Against Minorities’ being raised by united Nair-Ezhava leadership is shameful to Kerala. According to him Nair-Ezhava unity is an idea for protecting personal agendas of Sukumaran Nair and Vellappally being implemented with the blessings of Sangh Parivar leadership. Rahman made a scathing attack on Vellappally for inviting Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to Sivagiri Madhom, the highest centre of Ezhava community.

Article in Chandrika Daily

Popular Front attack was followed by Indian Union Muslim League on June 2 when its official newspaper Chandrika daily published an edit page article which included volatile and defamatory statements against Nair community and NSS general secretary Sukumaran Nair. I am not reproducing the cultureless remarks in this article here as it will incite communal discord.

This article sees conspiracy not only in Nair-Ezhava unity but also Sukumaran Nair becoming NSS general secretary. It also sees a hand of Sangh Parivar organizations, especially RSS behind Nair-Ezhava unity. The article wish that a inert personality could be NSS leader. It criticizes Nairs as a community with false pride who consider themselves as high caste. It criticizes Sukumaran Nair as a person who began his official career as an peon who later rose in life.

NSS reaction

NSS in its reaction said article in Chandrika shows lack of culture. NSS won’t ever forgive such acts. NSS will react to this intelligently and with level-headedness. He said Kerala chief minister is behind this article. Congress is doing this using Muslim League. Some people are irked by Nair-Ezhava unity and those who think they can break Nair-Ezhava unity is in fool’s paradise, added Nair.

Planning behind attack on Hindu unity move

While Muslim league leadership later disowned Chandrika’s article, this is only an effort to fool others. How could anyone write an article in Muslim League’s official daily without consent of its leadership? It seems such statements is a part of plan to slap somebody first and then say sorry.

Now let us analyse the reasons for the outrage of Muslim organizations against Nair-Ezhava unity and Sukumaran Nair. The continual of Nair-Ezhava unity is irking Muslim League leadership in the state and for the first time they are seeing a real threat. Initially they thought difference of opinion between Ezhavas  and Nairs on job reservation will naturally kill Nair-Ezhava unity. Now since Nairs who are against caste based reservation have declared that they have no opposition to Hindu backward communities getting reservation that hope has ended.

Now there is no other factor which can prevent Hindu unity in Kerala. Till the other day League used to spread the idea that Nairs are against backward communities and united Hindu community is an idea being floated by upper castes for their own benefit. Nair-Ezhava unity and broad Hindu unity in Kerala means league’s prominence in Kerala politics and its pressure tactics won’t succeed.

The extremist Popular Front has also realized the danger in Nair-Ezhava unity. In such a situation their attacks on Hindus would be resisted. They could no longer terrorize Hindus in Kerala and their ideas on converting Hindus will not succeed.

Popular Front’s attack on Nair-Ezhava unity and Muslim League’s attack on NSS  leadership seem to be a warning to Hindu leaders in Kerala. Such vehement attacks are being done after many deliberations and there is a plan. It is likely that they will organize more direct actions in the coming days aimed at polarizing  Kerala.

Moreover there will be efforts to destroy Nair-Ezhava unity through many fronts. Nair-Ezhava leadership needs to act firmly and intelligently but not emotionally. They need to stay united despite all provocations. Coming Lok Sabha Elections are an opportunity to show their strength in a democratic way.

NSS formally ends its relations with Congress

In a development of far reaching implications in Kerala politics, Nair Service Society (NSS),  organization of Nair community which is one of the prominent Hindu castes in Kerala today said it is formally severing its links with Congress.

NSS leadership had distanced itself from the Congress during the last few months. After G Sukumaran Nair became NSS general secretary NSS has clarified that it is no more an ally of Congress. But formal announcement came out after May 30 th leadership meet at Perunna. NSS used to support Congress traditionally and its founder Mannath Padmanabhan had lead the Liberation agitation against first Communist government in Kerala in 1958. Liberation agitation or Vimochana Samaram had cleared way for ascent of Congress government later.

Announcing new policy of NSS after May 30th leadership meet, general secretary G Sukumaran Nair said the organization would not have any relation with Congress hereafter and it does not want to have any discussion with state or central leadership of Congress to sort out its difference of opinion with Congress. “There is a popular notion that NSS has a pro-Congress stand but hereafter it will not have any relation to Congress,” said Nair. He said NSS does not believe in seeing Congress central leadership again for discussing its grievances.

He added that the stand of NSS in future would be issue based. NSS will support those who have favourably considers interests of Hindus in general, especially Nairs. Sukumaran Nair said NSS will take a decision on its support before next Lok Sabha elections considering policies of different political parties. He said the organization does not have any opposition to any particular political party including CPI (M).

Nair clarified that the new policy of NSS has been taken in the wake of failure of Congress Kerala leadership to honour an agreement reached between NSS and Congress high command that members of majority Hindus will be given positions of power in Kerala cabinet. In the present Kerala cabinet, key ministries in state cabinet and almost 70 per cent of government positions are being occupied by representatives of minority communities, he said.

According to Sukumaran Nair, the unity between NSS and SNDP, organization of Ezhava  community in the state is strong and will continue. Nair said these organizations have not taken a decision on common political stand. But there is possibility for such a common stand, he added. Nairs and Ezhavas together constitute 80 per cent of Hindu population in Kerala.

Analyzing Ramesh Chennithala-Ommen Chandy rift in the light of opinions of NSS and SNDP

Congress group war in Kerala with KPCC president on one side and chief minister on the other side during party rule is nothing new. Rather it is the norm in Congress from 1962 onward when CK Govindan Nair fought with R Sankar. Later A K Antony fought with K Karunakaran. However fight between present KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala and CM Oommen Chandy is different. This is because while earlier infighting in Congress was basically factionalism linked to loyalty to individuals, in the current in fight issues related to representation of various religions in the cabinet play the key role.

Their cold war in Congress Kerala unit erupted as open fight yesterday (May 22) when Chennithala in an interview to Indian Express said Chandy can now have his own way. Though he denied having given an official interview later, the issue remains and it is likely that only Congress high command can bring both leaders together now.

Reasons for current infighting

The main issue in Congress at present is imbalances in power sharing among party leaders belonging to Hindus, Muslims and Christians. The present fight for key positions in Congress has its roots in a power struggle which began in Congress Kerala unit around two decades ago in which communal forces also played a key role. As a result of that fight, in1992, K Karunakaran was forced to resign as Kerala chief minister. There had been allegations that majority community had been sidelined following Karunakaran’s resignation. After Karunakaran, both chief ministers of Congress A.K Antony and Oommen Chandy have been from Christian community.

Recently Major Hindu organizations in Kerala Nair Service Society (NSS) and SNDP yogam of Ezhava Community had publicized their opinion that minority communities (Read Muslims and Christians) are controlling power in the state and Majority Community has been sidelined. Afterwards, they said they had bargained for a key post for Ramesh Chennithala in Kerala ministry before election. They added that Oommen Chandy had violated an agreement they made with Congress central leadership that Ramesh will be given a key post.

It was in this backdrop that leaders owing allegiance to Chandy recently met Chennithala and expressed Chandy’s willingness to include Chennithala in the cabinet. However this seemed to be a clever move with Chennithala being lured to take an unimportant portfolio. While those who support Chennithala demand that he be given an important portfolio like Home in the ministry, Oommen Chandy seems to be strictly against it. Chandy had divested home portfolio which he was holding a few months back and had appointed his confidante Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as home minister.

Chennithala’s dilemma

It seems that Chennithala has realized that if he goes for an unimportant position in ministry he will later lose all clout, similar to what happened to former KPCC president K Muraleedharan. Muraleedharan resigned KPCC president post and contested in election when he was offered power minister post. However he couldn’t even win election then as a section of Congress leaders rigged his campaign. Now he is just an MLA. Chennithala has realized that the same may apply to him also and stated that he will continue as KPCC president which will force Congress leadership to intervene.

Even though NSS and SNDP supported Chennithala, the latter distanced from them publicly. This could have been Chennithala’s own strategy for a secular image or he might have been forced to do so by his opponents in party. Anyway, it means now he doesn’t have support of community. Now his opponents can handle him easily.

Those Congressmen who ditched Karunakaran earlier are now playing the same game at Chennithala also. They will up the pressure using community and media to put all blame on Chennithala for any setback of Congress and ensure that he won’t get any position of importance in future. Attitude of his opponents show they are not even willing to make him number two. Chennithala’s future depends on his own fighting skills and ability to force high command to intervene and give him home portfolio. Anything less will be a defeat for him.

Consequences of Congress group fight

While earlier Congress groups used to declare cease fire in faction wars when high command intervened, now even if leaders end fight cadres and sympathizers won’t. The Pandora’s box has already been opened. Meanwhile NSS leadership after directly attacking Chandy for the plight of Congress said they don’t have any love lost for Chennithala too. If NSS and SNDP stick to their opinion that they won’t have any relation to Congress in the coming days, then Chennithala’s crisis in Congress plus NSS and SNDP stand would further alienate majority community from Congress. It is likely that Congress will feel the impact in coming Lok Sabha election.

Middle level leaders of Congress belonging to Hindu community are likely to complain of neglect. Example of Karunakaran would force many to accept this view. While it is unlikely that those who distance from Congress leadership may vote for CPM, one cannot dismiss possibility of their coming close to BJP if BJP works properly among them.

Muslim League and CPM hit out at NSS and SNDP leaders for their statement on plight of Kerala Hindus

A joint statement issued by NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair and SNDP general secretary Vellappally Natesan on plight of Hindus in Kerala has evoked angry reactions from political parties in Kerala, especially CPM and Muslim League.

While CPM leader V.S. Achuthanandan commented that the effort of NSS and SNDP leaders was to help the growth of communalism in the state, Muslim League general secretary E T Muhammad Basheer said the statement of NSS and SNDP leaders would adversely affect communal harmony. According to Basheer, the statement of Sukumaran Nair was of low standard and he asked NSS to withdraw from such references. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala and chief minister Oommen Chandy however refused to comment on the statement of Nair and Vellappally.

It seems that political parties in Kerala sees red in the emerging Nair-Ezhava unity in Kerala and are wary of Hindu unity moves. Hindu unity in Kerala means political equations will change and propaganda being unleashed by a section of political parties in Kerala aimed to split Hindu castes won’t work anymore.

According to Achuthanandan, NSS-SNDP unity is aimed to help the rich. Achuthanandan commented that leaders of both organizations are trying to threaten those in administration and get things done for them.

KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala who came under vehement attack from NSS leadership for allegedly failing to stand by the demands of Hindu community in Kerala said he will not reply to leaders of social organizations. He said he would not dilute the secular ideals followed by Congress.

However, a different voice was heard from a leader of Mar Thoma Christian Church in Kerala. Metropolitan of the Church Mar Chrisostam is reported to have said that if leaders of majority community have grievances, it should be discussed. I am also ready to discuss the issue, he said.

What political leaders fail to see

Even as political leaders accused NSS and SNDP of helping growth of communalism, they did not explain how a demand for justice could harm communal harmony.  In fact, lack of justice could result in disharmony. It is common in the state for leaders of Muslim Community to publicly speak that their community is being neglected and minorities are being discriminated. But no political party has ever called it a communal campaign.

While the constitution of India envisages reservation in jobs for socially and educationally backward communities, all those adhering to Islam religion in Kerala get reservation. In the history of Kerala, Muslims have never been discriminated against. Majority of MLAs of ruling front in Kerala-UDF- belong to minority communities. Muslim League, a party which split India on the basis of religion has five members in Kerala cabinet and controls powerful ministries. Studies of Kerala government’s Centre for Development Studies has revealed that the major part of money flowing to Kerala from foreign countries belong to minority communities proving that they are affluent in Kerala.

While students of minority communites get different types of financial aid, forward castes in Hindu society who are financially backward do not get any help. Similarly widows belonging to minorities are eligible for different types of financial aid. Forward castes in Hindus are finding it very tough to exist in Kerala at present as they are helpless socially and economically.

Emerging scenario

It seems that political parties in Kerala have smelled danger at the progress of Nair-Ezhava unity. Of the 56 per cent Hindus in Kerala Nair-Ezhava communities in Kerala constitute more than 40 per cent. If at least a third of these communities decide to vote by the new equations developing in the state, a third political front different from UDF and LDF would become crucial in state politics. It seems that the ploy of Political parties dividing Hindus raising the false propaganda that forward castes have brutally tortured backward castes hundreds of years ago won’t work anymore. Hindus have realized who the real exploiters are. If Hindu unity becomes real it would give a new orientation to government policies in Kerala.

Kerala Hindus totally insecure and have few options, say Sukumaran Nair and Vellappally

Hindus in Kerala are feeling totally insecure and the state government seems to care about minorities only, says NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair and SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan.

After The second round of talks between NSS and SNDP held at NSS headquarters Changanassery on April 26, both leaders said the situation is fast deteriorating for Hindus in Kerala and the only option for them is mass exodus. Though a bit exaggerated, the words of Nair-Ezhava leaders are basically true. Hindus seem to be at the receiving in the state.

In Kerala the needs of only minorities are taken care of and government is neglecting even the fair demands of majority Hindus, said Vellappally and Nair. Vellappally said majority community is not getting justice and Nair-Ezhava communities won’t hesitate to take a joint political stand if the situation warrants. Nair said NSS will discard its policy of equi-distance from political parties if situation demands.

Both leaders said Nair-Ezhava unity has the potential to change the political scene in Kerala and politicians should remember this. Answering criticisms of political leaders in the state that Nair-Ezhava unity and the idea of Hindu unity is leading to communal polarization in Kerala, Sukumaran Nair said it was political parties which neglected them forcing them to unite.

Broad Hindu unity

Nair and Vellappally said Nair-Ezhava unity in the state has been cemented and now the stage is set for a broad Hindu unity in the state. Nair-Ezhava unity which was considered difficult earlier has become total now, said both leaders. This proves that Hindu unity is not an Utopian idea, said both. NSS does not have any opposition for continuing reservation to backward communities and Scheduled caste and tribe Hindus, said Nair. He said NSS and SNDP are aware of the moves to destroy unity of Hindus and such moves won’t succeed.

Nair  said Kerala is being ruled by a ministry supported mainly by minorities and added that their effort was to get the same benefits to majority also. Both said they are not against minorities in the state and minorities should not develop any apprehensions about Hindu unity.

Both leaders held a closed door discussion for about an hour before calling a joint press conference. They said they will decide later whether to form a new political party or not.

Significance 

The latest announcement of NSS and SNDP leaders have significance as it is the first time that they used the word Hindu for majority community. While emphasising Nair-Ezhava unity both leaders used the term majority community earlier.This gives a hint about their future moves. Their announcement of a joint political stand is also significant  as earlier unity moves were always projected as apolitical. It seems that both Nair and Vellappally have realised that unity moves have social acceptance and they can move forward with it.

NSS ends policy of promoting individual leaders; to discuss with SNDP stand to be taken in coming Lok Sabha election

In a bold declaration, Nair Service Society general secretary G Sukumaran Nair has said that NSS would never again strike deals with political parties to promote individual leaders and hereafter the stand of NSS during elections will be issue based.

In an interview to a Malayalam Channel Nair clarified that NSS is not going to continue the policy of equi-distance to different political parites. NSS would make its stand clear to its members in the coming Lok Sabha elections. He said some NSS leaders had supported individuals in the past. NSS won’t play politics for the growth of individuals again, he said.

The stand of NSS is likely to adversely affect the Congress in Kerala as individual leaders of Congress belonging to Nair community had used NSS as stepping stone. By acceding to demands of such leaders, NSS leadership in the past has forgotten the larger interests of Nair Community.  Perhaps some individual NSS leaders might have gained some benefits but not community. As Sukumaran Nair pointed out those congress leaders who gained positions with the support of NSS disowned the organization after gaining positions. They would be too eager to create an image of being Secular even at the cost of damaging the interests of majority community in Kerala.

NSS-SNDP discussions on Lok Sabha elections

Nair said NSS would hold discussions with SNDP regarding the stand to be taken in the coming Lok Sabha elections. NSS is continuing the effort to bring all Hindu castes in Kerala under an umbrella organization, he said. The first part of the effort is to unite different groups among individual castes. At present some caste groups have different organizations. After uniting them all, caste organizations will be brought under an umbrella. Nair said some leaders of Congress lead United Democratic Front in Kerala were trying to destroy Nair-Ezhava unity but won’t succeed. We are aware of such efforts, he said.

Nair said NSS has not got any favours from Congress in return of support given in elections. Even if we don’t support anyone, no political party can dare to dismiss the rightful demands of Nairs. So why should we beg for favours? In fact NSS does not want any favour from anybody, Nair asserted.

CM, Ramesh responsible for Ganesh’s exit from cabinet

Nair said NSS has disowned KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala and does not want him to come to Changanassery for discussions. He said the KPCC president’s actions reflect his slavish mentality to chief minister Oommen Chandy. Nair said the recent political dramas which resulted in the resignation of Kerala forest minister Ganesh Kumar was directed by chief minister Oommen Chandy himself. NSS had asked KPCC president and Chief Minister to take initiatives to solve the issue in Kerala Congress (B). They should have called Balakrishna Pillai, Chairman of KC (B) and his son Ganesh and helped to sort out the issues in party and family. But it seems they used the opportunity to worsen the situation with the motive of ousting Ganesh from ministry and getting the post for Congress, Nair said. He said Ganesh should be reinstated as minister.

Divorces shoot up among Nairs as family values take a beating

The high profile divorce case involving former Kerala forest minister KB Ganesh Kumar and his wife Yamini Thankachy has been the main story of all televisions channels and newspapers in Kerala in March, and first week of April, 2013. The dramatic reporting was enjoyed by the public and for the political rivals of Ganesh it was an unexpected weapon to finish him. But lost in the din and bustle of the mudslinging is a painful truth. One more powerful Hindu Nair family in South Kerala is going to disintegrate.

Ganesh’s is not an isolated case in Kerala. More and more families are breaking up for reasons ranging from petty ones to serious ones. Available statistics prove that Hindus, especially Nairs bear the brunt. Kerala has the highest divorce rate in the country according to a recent report in Deccan Chronicle. A report appeared in the paper points out that 38, 231 divorce cases filed across 18 family courts in the state last year. Hindu majority southern districts are far ahead of Muslim dominated Northern districts in divorce rate and among Southern districts Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam with a significant number of Nairs top. In fact 10, 243 divorce cases were filed in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam in 2012 which is 33 per cent of the total divorce cases in Kerala.

Failure of NSS in inculcating family values

It is almost clear that Nair dominated areas are witnessing a spree of divorces and Nair organizations including NSS have failed to do anything to inculcate values in Nair families and cement ties. While Christians have the powerful church to mediate in family issues, NSS as a social organization has failed to do anything to build character among Nair youth. Divorce rate among Muslims is on the lower side in Kerala as solid faith in Islam and tightly knit society gives little room for disruptive elements to destroy families.

Let us compare example of issues faced by Ganesh Kumar, Kunhalikkutty, P.J Kurien and PJ Joseph powerful leaders who had faced similar adultery allegations. While the allegation broke up the family of Ganesh, Kunhalikkutty, Kurien and Joseph saved themselves with the support of their family. I am not supporting adultery, but is divorce the only solution when a couple face trouble. Many times allegation of adultery is being raised to facilitate quick divorce. Shouldn’t a person be given chance to reform? What about the rights of children whose parents undergo divorce?

Among celebrity couples in Nair community actresses Urvashi, Kalpana and Kalaranjini have divorced or going through divorce proceedings. In Thiruvananthapuram town among Nair upper middle class families according to reliable sources divorce rate is over 50 per cent which is shocking.

All these point to the fact that a social dispute settling mechanism is absent among Nairs in Kerala while active among Christian and Muslim communities. Nair couples going for divorce for silly issues forget the fact that it is not two individuals alone who suffer from divorce. Whole families involving aged in laws, children brothers and sisters and even friends will have to share the impact of their decision. Marriage is a divine bond and family is a divine institution to help humanity progress.

Absence of religious education among Nairs

While Sunday schools teach Christian children Christian values, Madrasas teach Muslim children values in Islam. For Hindus, especially Nairs there are no institutions to teach the importance of values to children. This leaves Nair children vulnerable to ideological brainwash by political parties and so called progressive and secular groups which try to destroy Hindu society by making use of existing laws selectively. These groups convince youth that respecting elders, helping each other in family in times of crisis are all unwanted obscurantist ideas. Youth who imbibe this culture slowly separates themselves from family and many cannot identify even their relatives. They have no faith in anything and will quarrel among themselves.

Often in divorcing couples in Hindu families, family is a place where they can express all their frustration without getting retaliation. They fail to realize that after divorce they will be more vulnerable to outside attack when they will have none else for support.