BJP alleges ‘religious fundamentalists’ pressuring Keralam CM Satheesan

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 7 (PTI) The BJP on Monday alleged that religious fundamentalist forces were trying to take control of the administration in Keralam by putting pressure on Chief Minister V D Satheesan.

Reacting to an editorial in the mouthpiece of the E K faction of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, titled 'Chief Minister should speak properly', the party said, "Threatening and putting pressure on a democratically elected CM cannot be accepted at all." The controversy erupted after the chief minister criticised Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar's recent remarks that bringing women onto public platforms would lead to "great destruction".

Strongly rejecting Musliyar's statement, the CM had described the view as an idea from the 19th century, drawing a sharp response from various Sunni organisations.

In a Facebook post, BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, "Today, the CM is unable even to make a simple statement supporting women's rights." "Why is this? The reason behind this is the fear that his government can survive only by appeasing the Muslim League and extremist organisations," he said.

Chandrasekhar alleged that the Indian Union Muslim League, a key partner of the Congress-led UDF government, and its constituent organisations were openly threatening the CM of Keralam, believing that it was not the Constitution or the rule of law, but their commands that should decide how the state should function.

"We have strong disagreements with CM Satheesan and the Congress. In a democracy, political differences are natural; but the threats of communal forces cannot be accepted," he said.

Chandrasekhar urged every Congress worker to introspect on where a party leadership influenced by communal forces for political power was taking Keralam.

"Allowing extremist ideas to bring the government under their control is a destructive move that puts the safety of every Malayali at risk. We do not support this CM; at the same time, we strongly oppose this politics of intimidation," he said.

The BJP president said the Keralam government should answer to the Constitution and the people.

"Never to vote-bank politics," said Chandrasekhar, who represents the Nemom seat in the State Assembly.

Earlier, addressing a press conference, BJP national executive committee member P K Krishnadas said it was the latest evidence of what he described as a "dangerous political situation" in the state.

He said the relationship between the E K faction of Samastha and the Indian Union Muslim League was well known and alleged that the League was now directly threatening the CM through the religious organisation.

"A religious organisation supported by a prominent constituent party of the ruling front is telling the Chief Minister of a government that came to power through democratic means to 'speak properly'," Krishnadas said.

"This is not merely criticism; it is an approach that threatens and humiliates the CM," he added.

Krishnadas alleged that there was an attempt to shift control of the administration from political leadership to "religious fundamentalist organisations".

"Such politics is a major threat not only to democracy but also to secularism, social harmony and the future of Keralam," he said.

He said the BJP had strong political differences with the CM and the Congress but would not accept religious organisations threatening the head of a democratically elected government.

"The BJP will oppose such dangerous politics tooth and nail," Krishnadas said. PTI