State: Kerala’s BCs see a saviour in BJP
Intro: It is the turn of the Kudumbi community to tell aloud that they are with Modi and his party.
During the last one year more Backward Communities (BCs) in Kerala has come closer to BJP, thanks to the genuine, sympathetic and sincere approach of RSS and BJP towards them. Even though most of them have been maintaining strong rapport with RSS, they were, quite often reluctant to join hands with BJP. But, last year Narendra Modi was invited to address the annual gathering in Shivagiri, Kerala and the seat of Shri Narayana Guru’s spiritual and social philosophy. The next turn was Vallikkavu, the centre of Mata Amrithanandamayi Devi.
February 9, 2014 witnessed the spectacular and mammoth rally of Kerla Pulaya Maha Sabha (KPMS), the body of the most oppressed dalits called Pulayas, addressed by the Prime Minister. All those communities were realising that even a BC member can be at the helm of country’s affairs under BJP regime.
Now, it is the turn of the Kudumbi community to tell aloud that they are with Modi and his party. It was evident and conspicuous when BJP Kerala state president, V Muraleedharan inaugurated the 51st state conference of Kutumbi Seva Sangham (KSS) in Kochi and party’s state general secretary AN Radhakrishnan addressed the gathering. It was a real expression of the members of the community that thereafter their path was clear – they are going to swim with BJP.
The community members fled Goa due to physical as well as religious persecution of the Portuguese assailants during 16th to the 17th century. They came to Kerala coasts along with Gowda Saraswath Brahmins (GSBs) in search of safe lands to live and practise their religious life and rites sans any threat or killings or conversion. In Goa, Portuguese killers pushed them between the deep sea and the devil. The attackers wielded Bible in one hand and sword in the other. The GSBs and Kutumbis had to choose between Bible and life. Lakhs of were killed and their women were raped when they refused to embrace Christianity. Kerala gave them both safe life and freedom of worship. When they moved to Kerala, Kutumbis played the roles of servants of the GSBs. Naturally they were always in backward condition.
Even though, Kutumbis have been demanding ST status since the last several decades all fell on deaf years. Now, they believe that since a man from a backward community leads the country their community will get justice soon in the form of ST status.
In the wake of the aforementioned factors, inviting state BJP chief to inaugurate KSS state conference is very significant. That the strength of the Kutumbi community in Kerala is above 7 lakhs is extremely relevant for the parliamentary fortunes of BJP in Kerala. BJP chief Muraleedharan, in his inaugural address, stated that Kutumbis possess centuries-old heritage and tradition. They maintain them sans surrendering before the assailants and they fought for their dharma. He said that the government of Kerala is not for the oppressed because Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Kerala Congress are calling the shots under Oommen Chandy-led UDF rule. Now, a man from a Backward Community is the PM. Shri Modi and BJP always stand for the oppressed and the marginalized classes. BJP general secretary AN Radhakrishnan inaugurated the KKS’s website. He said, it was BJP who made Kutumbis the candidates for the local bodies’ election in Kerala. And, most of them won the elections. KSS General Secretary PS Ramachandran delivered the vote of thanks.
Political observers in the state see the change in the mood of KSS and the community towards BJP. No doubt it will make wonders in the next local bodies and assembly elections in favour of BJP. Since KSS discards LDF and UDF, it will adversely affect their election prospects.
-T Satisan from Kochi
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