Kerala: Violence and uncertainty

History is repeating itself in Kerala. What was witnessed in the state in the first week of April, beginning with Indira Gandhi's visit to Calicut on April 1, is reminiscent of the Vimochana Samaram (liberation struggle) days which began on June 12, 1959, leading to the overthrow of the first duly elected Communist Ministry in Kerala headed by E.M.S. Namboodiripad, on July 31 of the same year.The launching of the Vimochana Samaram was preceded by a visit to the state by Mrs Gandhi who was then the Congress president. Her Calicut visit on April 1 was also as the Congress(I) president and not as the prime minister of India. Just as in 1959 when the Congress was able to mobilise all the non-Communist political parties, a move is afoot to bring together some of the non-Communist parties in the Marxist-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government to overthrow the E.K. Nayanar Ministry. In 1959, foreign money played a crucial role, funnelled into the state through the Geneva-based Moral Re-armament (MRA) to the Nair Service Society (NSS) whose gladiator, Mannath Padmanabhan, was in the vanguard of the struggle. This time, the Geneva-based Maharishi International University (MIU) has substituted for MRA. A horde of American "Teachers of the Age of Enlightment", trained by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on Transcendental Meditation, are on the prowl to set up "colleges of natural law" in the state. The professed aim of their present initiative is "to create an ideal society in Kerala" where the law and order situation has taken a nose-dive since the beginning of the month. The 1959 "liberation struggle" took 50 days and 15 lives before President's rule was imposed in the state. The "second liberation struggle", launched on All Fools' Day, has been averaging a life a day with no sign of any let-up in the wanton killings.The launching of the samaram was meticulously planned and executed. M.V. Raja-gopalan, the Marxist MLA representing Tellicherry in the Kerala Assembly, was returning to his constituency on April 1, after attending the budget session of the legislature. Mrs Gandhi was expected in Calicut the same day on party work. So the police force in the northern range was mobilised for duty in connection with her arrival. Taking advantage of the situation, the Rashtriya Swyamsewak Sangh (RSS), smarting under constant attacks by Marxist workers, decided to strike. Rajagopalan the first accused in the murder of swyamsewak Ravindran, sentenced to rigorous imprisonment by the sessions court but acquitted by the High Court, was an obvious RSS target. The Malabar Express from Trivandrum to Mangalore had made a whistle-stop at 5.13 a.m. at the Tellicherry station and sped away two minutes later. Rajagopalan alighted from his bogey and was walking towards the exit gate when two bombs were thrown at him, allegedly by a RSS worker. One of the bombs hit his abdomen and injured his fingers. The news of the pre-dawn attack spread like wildfire throughout the state and retaliatory attacks by Marxist workers were swift and lethal. By dawn, three people were killed and scores injured, including the president of the local unit of the BJP Lakshmanan. Since both sides strive for parity, there was no let-up in the killing spree, notwithstanding prohibitory orders and the peace committee meeting convened by the district collector, R. P. Singh.Green Signal: The ceasefire between Marxists and swyamsewaks brought about by the personal intervention of Chief Minister E. K. Nayanar on December 6 last in Tellicherry was thrown overboard. The April 1 clashes gave Mrs Gandhi a handle to cast aspersions on the deteriorating law and order situation prevailing in Kerala and on the working of the police. Taking exception to the prime minister's remarks, Nayanar said: "The silence of Mrs Gandhi over the RSS and Shiv Sena, while commenting on the law and order situation in Kerala, was not accidental. Her statement has given the green signal to the communal reactionary forces to continue their violent activities-murder arson and sabotage. Reports reveal that the RSS started bomb-throwing and murdering without any provocation in Tellicherry where the situation was peaceful for months. Even the common man will suspect that the series of attacks throughout the state on the day of Mrs Gandhi's arrival took place as a well-planned political game." Mrs Gandhi's subsequent statement at Kathua in Jammu on April 5 that "if we want, these (non Congress-I) governments cannot function even for half an hour," was not lost on the four-day plenum of the state CPI(M) held in Trivandrum from April 4, to take stock of the political situation in Kerala.By the time the budget session of the Kerala Assembly ended on March 31, it was clear for all to see that serious cracks had developed in the ruling LDF led by the CPI (M). Often during the stormy session it was difficult to observe the thin dividing line between the Treasury and Opposition benches. More salvos were fired at the administration by members of the Congress (U), a major partner in the LDF. than by the Congress (I) leaders of the Opposition. Namboodiripad (left) and Nayanar: history repeating itselfParticipating in the debate, A. C. Jose of the Congress(U) described the budget as "east looking", meaning that it was favouring the plantation industry in the high ranges. The Finance portfolio is in the hands of K. M. Mani of the Kerala Congress which draws its sustenance from the rich planters. K. Mohammed Ali and N.P. Moideen (both Congress-U) also found nothing commendable in the budget and called for redrawing priorities as if this party was not consulted while drawing the budget proposals.V. M. Sudheeran, former MP and a general secretary of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee(U), lit the fuse of a time bomb, when he demanded an appointment of a Committee of Assembly Members to inquire into the lathi-charge on Janata Party volunteers of March 24. The Janata volunteers who had come to Trivandrum on a 'Jeep jatha' from Cannanore tried to gate-crash into the Assembly. The police resorted to a lathi-charge, injuring, among others, top leaders of the party, including K. Bhaskaran and K. Krishnankutti. MLAs. They rushed into the Assembly to display their injuries. Acrimonious scenes ensued and the speaker had to adjourn the House for an hour. When the House reassembled, Nayanar announced that a Revenue Board member would inquire into the incident and submit his report within a week. This seemed to satisfy all sections of the House when Sudheeran sprang a suprise by his demand which was seized by the Opposition, much to the embarrassment of the ruling Front. Throughout the session, whenever vulnerable issues were raised, like the spirit scandal or the death of Bhuvanendran in police custody, the Marxists were left to fend for themselves, with the lone exception of the CPI. The LDF comprises six parties: the CPI( M), Congress(U). CPI, Kerala Congress(M), Revolutionary Socialist Party and the All India Muslim League. And except for the CPI, none other is particularly keen on the present Ministry completing its full term though all are keen on remaining in power.Even at the time of the January 1980 Assembly elections and subsequent formation of the Ministry, the Front lacked cohesion. Some of the partners were not even on talking terms with each other. Taking advantage of this situation, the CPI (M) was able to have everything its own way. While coalition governments have been the order of the day in Kerala for over two decades, at no previous occasion had one party been able to combine all powers in its hands. Chief minister ship, Home portfolio and the convenorship of the liaison committee, supreme policy making body of the coalition, had been the three kingpins in Kerala's coalition experiment and these three posts were held by three leading partners. Today, the Marxists are in charge of all the three positions. Unless the CPI(M) is prepared to shed at least the Home portfolio the present incumbent has not exactly covered himself with glory-the United Front would break up by the weight of its own disunity and Mrs Gandhi need not go out of her way to topple the Nayanar Ministry.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 22, 2013 13:18 IST--- ENDS ---

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Kerala: Violence and uncertainty

History is repeating itself in Kerala. What was witnessed in the state in the first week of April, beginning with Indira Gandhi's visit to Calicut on April 1, is reminiscent of the Vimochana Samaram (liberation struggle) days which began on June 12, 1959.

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