There is a popular proverb in Malayalam, which says, ?The eyes of the fox are always on the chicken nest?. Similarly, ever since the CPM came into power, its eyes were on the 1200 odd major temples which are administered by the Travancore and Kochi Dewaswom Boards. Among these is the Sabarimala Temple whose bank deposits runs into thousands of crores of rupees, not to mention the enormous landed property, gold, diamonds and silver owned by most of the temples.
After discussions in the LDF and cabinet, the government sent the ?Travancore-Cochin-Hindu Religions Institutions? Ordinance to the Governor on January 31 for signing. The ordinance, which is a humiliation to the Hindus, disbands the Travancore and Cochin autonomous Devaswom Boards, curtains their new term (when constituted) from four to two years, and includes a woman member in the Boards. Till the new board is constituted (which will not take place early) the government will be in total control of the temple finances and its administration. The CPM regime had tried to take over the Christian/Muslim professional colleges by a Self Financing Colleges act, which had incurred their wrath and which was struck down by the High Court. Now, the CPM wants to please the minorities (who effectively are the majority) by bringing an anti-Hindu act.
Despite protests from RSS, HAV, BJP and SNDP (representing Hindu Ezhavas), the Governor R.L. Bhatia signed the Ordinance on February 4.
The Hindu Aikya Vedi (HAV), umbrella organisation of almost 175 Hindu outfits has announced massive agitations against this war on Hindutva. They have announced February 5 as ?Black Day? and a week long protest. On February 14 thousands of Hindu leaders will observe ?Fast Satyagraha? outside the Secretariat.
VHP General Secretary, Kummanam Rajasekharan, has said that the ordinance is a gimmick to control temple wealth and funds by the CPM. He said only believers have the right to control their temples and the CPM, who declare themselves, as atheists, should not meddle in temple affairs. Calling the CPM partisan, he said, if the CPM has guts, let it take over churches and mosques which are administered by Christians and Muslims directly. Former Chief Minister and NCP national vice-president K. Karunakaran has opposed the ordinance saying it is an affront on Hindus and will hurt their sentiments. He said it is not a mere Hindu issue, but one linked with freedom of worship guaranteed by the Constitution.
Tranvancore Devaswom Board president, G. Raman Nair and HAV are approaching court for quashing the ordinance.
In another major attack on Hindutva, thanks to IUML Minister at the Centre E. Ahmed'sconspiracy, the CBI had declined to take up the Marad case for investigation.
On May 2, 2003, in the fishing hamlet of Marad near Kozhikode, 8 Hindu fishermen were brutally massacred by jehadi elements drawn from parties ranging from Muslim League to CPM. Due to continuous protests by Hindu organisations, a Judicial Commissioner was constituted. The Judicial Commissioner Justice Thomas P. Joseph gave his report to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in April 2006. Oommen Chandy who convened a Special Session of the Assembly for passing a resolution for Madhani'srelease, but did not put the report in the Assembly'stable. The Justice has strongly indicted Islamic militancy groups and IUML role in the Marad carnage and asked for CBI, IB, RAW, DRI and other central agencies to probe into inter-state/ISI/PAK role in the carnage, sources of funds, conspiracy angle etc. etc.
The CPM which earlier opposed CBI probe (since several of its Muslim cadres were involved in the attack) accepted the report and sent the case to CBI for investigation.
The Indian Union Muslim League had, since the beginning opposed CBI probe. Its leaders like Kunjalikutty and Mayin Haji were directly involved in the attack. E. Ahmed, now Union Minister, opened the sealed Marad mosque and offered Namaz. It was sealed since large quantities of weapons were seized from there. Kunjalikutty, had, then openly asked, ?If CBI probe comes, will I be arrested and questioned??
Ahmed has exhorted maximum pressure on the UPA, and the CBI'srefusal to take up the case is a result of IUML'sgame-plan. It doesn'twant CBI probe at any cost.
BJP state president, P.K. Krishnadas says that CBI'scontention that three years have elapsed since the incident took place is not valid, since Sister Abhaya (Nun raped and murdered in convent) and Naxalite Varghese murders went to CBI after several years. He said IUML has opposed CBI probe from the very beginning and CBI probe is needed to prevent more Marads. He also called for a Police-Army joint operation in Kerala to crackdown the Islamic militants training camps run by the NDF.
The CPM which came to power getting support of all extremist and Islamic militants outfits, is now promising moon to the 150 Marad accused lodged in prison. Rs. 65 lakh have been allotted to their families and the monthly visits by relatives have been increased to 10. A separate hospital has been provided for them. Before long they will be lodged as ?State Guests? in Government Guest Houses and provided VIP food and A/c comfort! Despite the Judicial Commission naming Hilal Mohammed, an NRI, as the financier of the Marad carnage, the CPM has taken no effort to arrest him or book him. Vote Bank Appeasement, thy name is CPM!
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