THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cross and the Communists have never been close allies, especially when a clash seems inevitable. Obviously, the resulting face-off is bound to have a more or less unsavoury outcome. The Pappathichola cross demolition fiasco has already stirred up quite a controversy in the state. It’s in this backdrop that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s moral outrage against the demolition raises questions.
The sudden outburst, though smacking of hypocrisy, seems to be a clever political strategy to smother any communal tension that could arise from the act. The demolition followed by the Left Government’s move to put the anti-encroachment drive on hold is curiously ironical.
The communists in Kerala, backed by history wherein a Chief Minister once asked, “Bhagavanenthina Paravu?” (Why would God need a sentry?), Pinarayi’s moral outrage could seem a bit misplaced. But in a way, the move has left community leaders at ease, thereby ensuring an actual curb of communal or religious outrage.
The image of a Communist government pulling down the cross and the impression it can create could have triggered the response. It almost appears as if Pinarayi and a section of the political leadership seem more worried than the religious themselves. Whatever be the underlying reason, it’s indeed a clever political tactic, feels political commentator NM Pearson. “Otherwise, how can a CPM Chief Minister make such a statement?” he asks.
“As far as Idukki is concerned, the cross is being used as a tool of encroachment. Justifying the tool and bestowing it with a sacred halo is not a good message.
At the same time, we shouldn’t ignore the strategic move. We should ensure that the issue does not blow out of proportion, thereby creating undue communal tension. When a leader of Pinarayi Vijayan’s stature comes up with such an open statement, that itself puts the issue to rest. Anyone else saying the same would not have made this kind of an impact,” he says.
The propriety of a communist leader making such a statement hasn’t gone down well with many. Veteran leader V S Achuthanandan has already made it clear that encroachments of any nature - irrespective of whether it’s in the form of a cross or something else - should be evicted.
Pinarayi’s open bashing of the move has come as a shock for the CPI leadership, leading to severe retorts. CPI state assistant secretary Prakash Babu was the first to express his displeasure. “The Cross which is a symbol of sacrifice and suffering should not be used as a cover for encroachment,” he said.
“There was an opinion that a more cautious approach should have been taken. The cross is a symbol of belief for many. When it’s being pulled down, the impression it creates in the minds of people is important,” said senior CPI leader Pannian Raveendran.
Unlike other parts of the state, the anti-encroachment drive in Idukki holds immense political significance. The hilly district is known for encroachments under the cover of religion, tourism et al. Most of these are done with the silent concurrence of the authorities. Both religious establishments and resorts have ample encroachments against their names, with the political leadership preferring to turn a blind eye to such nefarious misdeeds.
Irrespective of party affiliations, local political leaders are all known to support such encroachers. The CPI, which is now on an eviction rampage, too faced allegations during the last LDF Government’s tenure. The CPM and the Congress too have similar tales to tell. The BJP is yet to fully cash in on the same. In fact, the top political brass many a time feign ignorance.