The Hindus are hitting back in Kerala. And it may spell trouble for the Congress-led government which is supported by both Christian and Muslim political outfits. After muscle flexing and perceived attempts to Islamise Kerala by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF)’s troublesome but important ally, resentment has been brewing among Kerala’s Hindu organisations. The result is a historic alliance between the state’s three caste based organisations — Sree Narayana Dharama Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, an organisation of Ezhava community, Nair Service Society (NSS) and the Kerala Brahmana Sabha (KBS). They have come together to unite not just the castes, but also to promote the unity of Hindus.
The KBS is the latest memeber of this alliance. State president V Ramalingam said that the organisation has decided to join hands with the ‘unity move’ of the SNDP and the NSS. “The future plan will be decided at the state meeting of the KBS,” he said. Earlier, the SNDP Yogam had floated a ‘unity’ move, but leaders of the NSS and other Hindu orgnisations opposed it.
There were allegations by the Hindu communities in the state that the UDF government led by Oommen Chandy was favouring the Muslim League and Kerala Congress (M), and denying benefits to the Hindus. The unity of the Hindu organisations will give them a better bargaining power with the government. The Hindu organisations protested when the UDF government sanctioned new schools in north Kerala where the the Muslims have an upper hand. The unity pact signed by the SNDP and NSS alleged that the political parties in the state had been denying the rights of the Hindus. The draft alleged that disunity among the Hindus led to its politicial exploitation by minority leaders.
With more Hindu organisations coming forward for a pan-caste alliance which will have a political impact, Kerala’s social artitmetic is up for a change.