KOZHIKODE: Malappuram is a ‘separate country’ where the Ezhavas live in fear and cannot freely air their opinion, said SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan.
Addressing a public meeting at Chungathara in Malappuram on Friday night, Natesan said Ezhavas cannot live freely or express their opinion in Malappuram. “It is a separate country. The backward classes in Malappuram could not enjoy the benefits of Independence even after so many years,” he said.
“What do we have in Malappuram? We don’t even have an elementary school. Successive governments have been treating the district as their family property,” Vellappally said. “Do you have a college or higher secondary school? MNGREA is the only place where we have adequate representation,” he said. Other communities could gain much because they are organised. “We are only vote-casting machines,” Vellappally said.
The SNDP Yogam leader’s remarks have stirred a hornet’s nest with some demanding legal action against him for trying to drive communal division. Organisations including the PDP and Solidarity have submitted a petition against Natesan with the police while SNDP Samrakshana Samithi asked the government to stay away from the reception for the Yogam leader. Muslim Youth League workers burned Vellappally in effigy in Tirur. Thirurangadi mandalam Youth League filed a complaint against Vellappally with the district police chief.
IUML state general secretary P M A Salam said that Natesan’s remarks are frivolous and do not warrant any reply. He should be ready to stay at Malappuram for a few days and should tell the public about his experiences, Salam said. He said Natesan should make it on what basis he said such things.
IUML leader K P A Majeed, MLA, said Vellappally is a person who would do anything to appease the BJP to salvage himself from cases.
“He could have asked any ordinary SNDP Yogam worker from Malappuram before making such comments,” he said.
Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM) wanted the SNDP Yogam leader to make clear as to for whom he made the remarks.