PK Krishnadas, BJP’s national secretary from  Kerala, made an effective initiative to have a fruitful meeting with Metropolitan Thomas Mar Themotheos of the Kottayam diocese of the Jacobite Syrian Church. The meeting took place at the diocese headquarters recently. PK Krishnadas was accompanied by BJP State secretary B Radhakrishna Menon and leaders N Hari, KG Rajmohan and PK Ravindran

After the one hour long meeting, Krishnadas told Organiser that general election was not on the agenda of his meeting with the Bishop. However, BJP will seek the support of all sections of the society in connection with the elections.

Metropolitan told the media persons that a strong-willed prime minister and  an efficient administrative set up were the need of the hour. He said that people by and large believe that BJP would come to power in the coming parliamentary polls. He added that he expected BJP to fight against corruption. He opined that the Government should  work for public interest not just hold power.

Replying to  a question he said that Church do not have any stand to back any particular party or individual.  At the same time he pointed out that the Church do not oppose the  BJP or Narendra Modi, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.

It coincides with the recent incident which took place in connection with the ‘Run For Unity’ held to mark the 150th birth day celebrations of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The programme turned significant when Kerala Government chief whip and veteran  Kerala Congress leader PC George flagged off the programme in Kottayam.

 —T Satisan

Healthy trends turn controversial in Kerala

Kerala is famous for controversies. Even healthy trends turn controversial, thanks to the excess and over politicisation of the most literate state of our country. When government chief whip PCV George flagged of the ‘Run For Unity’ last month it stirred a hornets’ nest. Now, it is the turn of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) Leader Abdul Samda Samadani to invite the wrath of all pseudo secularists of all walks. Because he addressed the Vishwam Vivekanandam Gokula yatra organised by Balagokulam, a Sangh parivar organisation meant training the children in Bharathiya culture and national tenets.

Samadani is known to be a famous scholar, orator of IUML. His deep knowledge in Hindu scripts and epics is unique. The same time he is a champion of PR skills and cultivates best rapport with some RSS an BJP leaders of equal talents. This time, he addressed Balagokulam programme in his own Kottakal constituency in Malappuram, a Muslim majority district created by Chief Minister EMS Namboothirippad in 1969 when his CPM and IUML were coalition partners. Balagokulam had, in fact, invited all other MLAs in the district, obviously IUML men. None of them, except Samadani, bothered to accept the invitation. It is reported that IUML had given instruction to its MLAs not to participate in Balagokulam programmes. Now, Congress and CPM leaders and all non-BJP parties are denouncing Samadani’s action.

But, veteran  IUML leader is sticking to his gun that his participation was in a cultural programme, not in any political programme. Moreover, it was about Swami Vivekananda. He states that he had delivered several speeches on Swamiji in the past.                   —T Satisan