SNDP Yogam’s Vellappally Natesan alleges IUML is communal, criticises UDF and LDF

SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan has repeated his allegation that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is a communal party presenting itself as secular. The remarks were made in a signed editorial published on Wednesday in Yoga Nadam, the organisation’s official mouthpiece.

Mr. Natesan stated he was reiterating a charge he had made earlier, during the Assembly election campaign. He described the IUML as a “true blue communal party wearing a secular garb.” The editorial also contained indirect criticism of the party’s allies in the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF).

Without naming the IUML directly in one passage, Mr. Natesan claimed that “divisive forces were gunning for the SNDP Yogam,” and said the organisation could not remain silent when “political parties in power cradled a communal outfit.” He argued that any attack on the SNDP Yogam was an assault on the aspirations of backward class, Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribe communities in Kerala.

The editorial alleged that the appointment of personal staff by IUML Ministers indicated the party would “behave communally once in power.” Mr. Natesan also flagged what he called a socio-political plot to “hedge in and undermine” the Hindu majority community in Kerala, acting “covertly and overtly.” He said the state “has not forgotten” Local Self-Governments Minister K.M. Shaji’s earlier reported remark that “religion was paramount” for the IUML.

Mr. Natesan’s editorial comes at a time when some Congress leaders, notably former Speaker V.M. Sudheeran, have been pressing for the reopening of investigations against him. These include inquiries into an alleged microfinance scam and the circumstances surrounding the death of his long-time aide K.K. Maheshan.

The SNDP Yogam leader also criticised the Left Democratic Front (LDF), attributing its electoral defeat to what he described as the front courting minorities at the expense of its Ezhava base. He claimed that this base had formed the “backbone” of the Left movement in Kerala.

His remarks drew attention from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]. The party’s state committee has reportedly concluded that its failure to forcefully condemn the SNDP Yogam general secretary’s anti-Muslim rhetoric alienated minorities and contributed to the LDF’s historic poll defeat.

During the Assembly election campaign, Mr. Natesan’s rhetoric against the IUML and his personal attacks on then Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan had stirred controversy. In his latest editorial, he also claimed that “the enemies within the SNDP Yogam community and some television channel owners” were part of a “conspiratorial cabal” targeting the organisation founded by social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.

The SNDP Yogam represents the Ezhava community, which is classified as a backward class in Kerala. The IUML is a key ally of the Congress-led UDF and has been part of several coalition governments in the state.