CPM Mayor of Kozhikkode, Kerala, has invited her party’s wrath for addressing a Balagokulam programme in connection with the upcoming Janmashtami celebrations. Mayor Dr Beena Philip addressed a “Mothers’ Conference” organized by Mathrusamithi of Balagokulam. CPM brass was provoked by her speech that North Indians give better care to children. Every child gets equal treatment in every house in North whereas in Kerala a child in the neighbourhood is treated differently. She told the gathering that if they love Lord Krishna, they should treat every child like they treat Lord Krishna. And, it would develop as a good culture.
But, CPM is not ready to take it lightly or generously. Its state and district leaders have come down heavily on the Mayor. Because “she violated the party norms and participated in a programme of religious communalists”. They allege that she graced an RSS programme.
Mayor told the media that she was invited by a women’s collective to talk to mothers. She did not associate any programme with any religion. She did not know that it was affiliated with RSS. She added that the mythical characters are not any religion’s monopoly. She displays a picture of Goddess Saraswathi at her home. Because anyone who learns Malayalam links the language with Saraswathi. It is part of cultural psychology. She says CPM has not imposed any restrictions on her with respect to participating in any programme provided it is not communal.
Latest reports suggest that CPM is going to suspend the Mayor from the Party (but of course not from Mayorship). Congress leaders also criticized the Mayor. But, they conveniently forget that Oommen Chandy, two-time Congress CM, the tallest Congress leader in the state and currently AICC general secretary, had flagged off Balagokulam Shobhayathra in his Puthuppalli Assembly Constituency a few years back and has graced the culmination of Shobhayatras there several times. No doubt, the reactions of both political parties once again bring to daylight their blatant political untouchability and intolerance. Communists have been viewing Balagokulam through the eyes of enmity and envy for long. Because they could not stop their own children from participating in the Shobhayatras of Balagokulam. So, once they even organized their own Shobhayatras. But, it failed to serve its purpose hence they stopped it.
In 2010, the CPM Mayor of Kollam lost his job as he inaugurated the reception committee office in connection with the Kerala Pranth Mahasamghikh of RSS which was addressed by Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohanji Bhagavath. Recently a prominent Indian Union Muslim League leader was censured by his party for participating in a seminar in the offices of “Kesari” Malayalam weekly of RSS. But, leaders of both CPM-led LDF and Congress-led UDF do not blame each other when one of them attends the programmes of Muslims or Christians. Both Fronts passed a unanimous resolution in the state assembly demanding the release of Islamic terrorist Adul Nasar Madani when he was jailed in connection with the infamous Coimbatore Blast Case which targeted LK Advaniji in 1998. Recently Pinarayi Vijayan cancelled the appointment of a District Collector in the wake of the stiff opposition from Muslim outfits. That is why BJP President K. Surendran laughed at the CPM’s outbursts against Mayor Dr Philip. Union Minister V. Muraleedharan wondered if CPM is angry due to Dr Beena’s garlanding Sri Krishna Idol, a ritual in Balagokulam programmes.
In fact, CPM has been unhappy with Dr Beena Philip for the last few months due to her stringent actions to curb corruption. Mayor, who does not belong to party rank and file, insisted on recording the names of the visitors and the purpose of visits to the municipal corporation office. It was in the wake of widespread complaints against giving Door Numbers to constructions without permission. She even went to the extent of telling the media that she was not aware of the mafia in the officialdom is this much power. This statement affects her Party very much as they have been ruling the corporation for the last several decades. Therefore, the Balagokulam programme was a windfall for the Party to frighten her.
Apparently, Balagokulam is a six-decade-old movement of children. It is initiated by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and is the largest children’s movement in the entire world. Its activities are spread throughout the world. Its weekly classes impart lessons on Bharatiya culture and patriotism. Janmashtami Day Shobhayatras convert the entire state into a Madhura, the birthplace of Sri Krishna. Children in the attire of Sri Krishna, Radhika and other heroes of Bharatiya epics, namely, Bhima, Arjun, Rama, Sita and so on make the Shobhayatras colourful. They are taking place not only in Kerala but also in all major Metro Cities in the country and in almost all foreign countries except for orthodox Islamic nations and communist lands like China, North Korea and Cuba.
