CPI-M, SNDP spar in Kerala over political leanings

Kollam/Kannur (Kerala), August 9: Top leaders of the CPI-M and the Sree raya Dharma Paripala (SNDP) Yogam, a powerful social group of the Hindu Ezhava community in Kerala, exchanged barbs on Sunday about the SNDP general secretary meeting BJP chief Amit Shah. The sparring between the two sides has been on since SNDP general secretary Velapally tesan and his team called upon BJP tiol president Shah in New Delhi along with Kerala BJP leaders last month. The SNDP, founded by social reformer Sree raya Guru in 1903, is often referred to as the representative body of Kerala’s Ezhava community. In the state, Hindus constitute over 50 percent of the 3.25 crore population. In numbers, the Ezhava community is slightly ahead of the Hindu ir community. Over the years, even though SNDP has always claimed keeping equidistance from the rival political fronts — Left and the Congress-led UDF — in the state, it is common knowledge that a majority often used to throw their support behind the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Democratic Front. On Sunday, tesan, speaking at SNDP’s general body meeting in Kollam, however, targeted the CPI-M, saying no political party should try to control SNDP. “Nobody needs to have any thoughts of controlling the SNDP, as it’s not a feeder organisation of any political party. The CPI-M thinks that they can deceive by projecting themselves as the saviour of the oppressed. I don’t understand why some get restless when the truth is stated,” he said.   (IANS)