Left's Strong Resistance Prevented RSS Agenda From Taking Root in Kerala:m P Jayarajan

CPI(M) state secretariat member P Jayarajan said the RSS agenda has not been implemented in Kerala because of the strong resistance put up by the Left. He said the RSS has been pursuing its plans to establish a foothold in Kerala for several decades.

RSS shakha activities began in Kerala in the 1940s, Jayarajan said. The RSS claims that Kerala has the highest number of shakha activities in the country. “But why has Kerala not become Gujarat or Madhya Pradesh? It is not because of the strength of the Congress or the Muslim League. It is because of the courageous efforts led by the CPI(M), mobilising people against Sangh Parivar ideology,” he said.

However, Jayarajan said he did not believe that this resistance should be carried out solely with the participation of communists. Kerala has a strong renaissance tradition, he said, referring to the legacies of Sree Narayana Guru, Chattampi Swamikal, Vagbhatananda and Ayyankali. These traditions contain sources of ideas that can be used to counter the Sangh Parivar, he said.

“Communist parties, various class organisations and people including media workers should come together and build a strong resistance by drawing on these traditions as well,” Jayarajan said.

He said the RSS's communal propaganda was being carried out globally. Referring to an RSS chief's recent visit to New York, Jayarajan said people had protested at Madison Square after learning that Mohan Bhagwat was visiting, but Bhagwat went ahead with his speech.

Bhagwat spoke about unity, Jayarajan said, questioning whether the RSS and Sangh Parivar were implementing unity in India. “It is certainly a force that creates divisions,” he added.

Jayarajan said the expanded CPI(M) meeting held in Kozhikode had generated considerable enthusiasm among party workers and those who wanted the Left to become stronger. At a time when Kerala's democracy, secularism and social justice are being challenged, people want the CPI(M) to lead the struggle against them, he said.

He said the meeting had given new energy to people who were disappointed by the election defeat. The decisions taken at the meeting would not mark the end of the process, he added.

“Have you ever heard of the Congress holding a committee meeting to find out the reasons for a defeat? After the election following the Emergency, the people defeated Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi. All of the Congress's big guns were defeated, and the party that had ruled continuously for 30 years was thrown out of power. Did the Congress conduct any self-introspection then?” Jayarajan asked.

He also questioned whether the BJP had become a party that functions solely according to the directives of the RSS. He said an impression had also emerged that the party was involved in handling black money.

“What is the situation of the same party in Kerala? Aren't they fighting after splitting into groups? When public opinion declined, was the BJP ever ready to conduct an assessment?” he asked.

Jayarajan said the CPI(M) was different from these organisations in its organisational methods and functioning. The party has always strengthened its activities through internal party discussions, he said.