Monday, Apr 22, 2013
Thiruvananthapuram: Even as Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi mulls his prime ministerial prospects in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, down south in Kerala, his ideology and development model have triggered a political ruckus.
The initial trigger for the political uproar was a meeting Kerala labour minister Shibu Baby John had with Modi. The protests have grown with the news that the Gujarat chief minister would visit the Sivagiri Mutt, established by social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, on Wednesday for its jubilee celebrations.
Leaders of the Communist Party of India Marxist, including opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan and CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, have criticised John’s meeting and Modi’s proposed visit to Sivagiri. Achuthanandan has decided not to participate in the jubilee celebrations after it was known that Modi was also being invited to the function.
The CPM leadership alleged that officials were adding a Hindutva colour to the mutt, which Sree Narayana Guru had established as a secular institution as part of his efforts at social reformation.
The mutt’s general secretary, Rithambarananda Swamikal, has, however, countered such allegations, stating that there was no political agenda in the invitation extended to the Gujarat chief minister and that there was no restriction for anyone to visit the mutt.
Go-ahead for invite
The invitation has also been endorsed by the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan.
The ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) has struggled to extricate itself from the controversy after minister John called on Modi last week. In an embarrassment to the front, industry minister P.K. Kunhalikutty said the Gujarat model of development did not hold any lessons for Kerala. John found some respite when finance minister K.M. Mani said there was nothing wrong in the visit.
John had explained that his meeting with Modi was only to discuss some issues concerning skill development and training. Chief minister Oommen Chandy has sought a clarification from the labour minister about the visit and made it clear that the Gujarat model of development was not acceptable to Kerala.
The UDF leadership in Kerala is particularly peeved at John’s meeting since it comes at a time when Modi is expected to lead the opposition ranks in the electoral battle against the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government in Delhi.
The Bharatiya Janata Party state president, V. Muraleedharan, however, said the anti-Modi stance of the Congress and CPM showed their double standards. He said that Congress leader Vayalar Ravi had invited Modi for the Pravasi Bharatiya meeting, and reminded Congress and CPM leaders that they had shared the dais with Bangalore blast case accused Abdul Nasser Madani and were now pointing fingers at Modi.
By Akhel Mathew Correspondent
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
