A former MP quits CPM over party’s anti-religion stand
Months ahead of the crucial panchayat elections in Kerala, the VS Achuthanandan government is in deep water. One of its former MP has quit the communist party over its anti-religion stand. The controversy is centred on Dr. K.S.Manoj, a Latin Catholic youth leader baptised into the party during 2004 Lok Sabha elections against Congress bigwig V.M. Sudheeran in Alappuzha. Manoj resigned his party membership, accusing the party in Kerala of taking double stand on issues related to faith and religion.
Earlier, A.P. Abdullakkutty, former MP from Kannur, had raised a similar issue, but he was expelled from the party. This time the party has changed its strategies. Rather than criticising Manoj the party has defended its stand because it desperately needs minority vote to win seats in panchayat polls.
“The party has nothing against any religion and we have many members who follow their religion,” says CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. Fiercely disagreeing with Manoj, he said: “Manoj was a half-priest even when he contested the Lok Sabha poll. Nobody said anything against his faith or religious activities. Later, he was given party membership as per his request.
Now, after losing the seat he is trying to malign the party’s image by raising false allegations.” Looking at the seriousness of the whole issue, national general secretary Prakash Karat too joined in. He elaborated party’s stand on religion through party mouthpiece Desabhimani. He drew a distinction between ordinary party worker and a leader. There is no bar on religious practice for ordinary worker, but leaders should shun religious observance, he observed. The row is raging.
Months ahead of the crucial panchayat elections in Kerala, the VS Achuthanandan government is in deep water. One of its former MP has quit the communist party over its anti-religion stand. The controversy is centred on Dr. K.S.Manoj, a Latin Catholic youth leader baptised into the party during 2004 Lok Sabha elections against Congress bigwig V.M. Sudheeran in Alappuzha. Manoj resigned his party membership, accusing the party in Kerala of taking double stand on issues related to faith and religion.
Earlier, A.P. Abdullakkutty, former MP from Kannur, had raised a similar issue, but he was expelled from the party. This time the party has changed its strategies. Rather than criticising Manoj the party has defended its stand because it desperately needs minority vote to win seats in panchayat polls.
“The party has nothing against any religion and we have many members who follow their religion,” says CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. Fiercely disagreeing with Manoj, he said: “Manoj was a half-priest even when he contested the Lok Sabha poll. Nobody said anything against his faith or religious activities. Later, he was given party membership as per his request.
Now, after losing the seat he is trying to malign the party’s image by raising false allegations.” Looking at the seriousness of the whole issue, national general secretary Prakash Karat too joined in. He elaborated party’s stand on religion through party mouthpiece Desabhimani. He drew a distinction between ordinary party worker and a leader. There is no bar on religious practice for ordinary worker, but leaders should shun religious observance, he observed. The row is raging.
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