Kerala CM Pinarai Vijayan declared unwavering support for Palestine, dismissing any notion of neutrality and expressing solidarity with the cause. Accusing the BJP-led Union Government of advocating a pro-Israel policy, Vijayan claimed that the people of India stand with Palestine, contrary to the government’s alignment with Israel. He went on to allege that the “Government of Bharat” had compromised foreign policy in favour of supporting Israel, urging the public not to rely on the BJP’s stance as reflective of the country’s position.
During his address, Vijayan called for the annulment of military and defence contracts with Israel, contending that the nation is being used as a tool against Palestine. The rally, perceived as pro-Hamas, aimed to voice support for Palestine and criticise the BJP-led government for its alleged favouritism towards Israel.
Vijayan claimed that our “countrymen are with the people of Palestine while the union government supports Israel”. He went to the extent of alleging that “Government of Bharat diluted the foreign policy for supporting Israel”. He called on the people not to count on BJP’s policy to support Israel as the country’s stand. He demanded the cancellation of military and defence contracts with Israel. He alleged that Israel uses Bharat as a weapon against Palestine.
Pinarayi referred to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and its possibility of joining the LDF’s pro-Hamas Leftist movement in connection with the invitation CPM extended to it (IUML) in this respect. It is to be remembered that IUML had stated on November 4, they would not participate in the CPM-led rally, thanks to some ‘technical reasons’. However, the invitation and the ‘weak’ refusal have annoyed the Congress-led opposition United Democratic Front (UDF). It stated that the idea behind the invitation was to destabilise the UDF mechanism. It is an obvious fact that, for IUML, Congress and its UDF will be toothless. Even Rahul Gandhi won from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, thanks to the IUML vote bank in that constituency.
This journal had carried a story few days before that the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and opposition Congress-led UDF are engaged in tight competition to grab the organised minority vote banks. Both will go to any extent for bagging it. Their histories speak it out. Now, Congress organises a massive pro-Hamas rally for November 23. They will bring together all “secular-democratic forces”, read, anti-BJP and anti-Hindutwa forces, together on that day. They believe, it will be a large crowd and turn into a ”historic event of Palestinian solidarity”. Congress also tells that Palestinians are being persecuted in West Asia. They are also talking about Bharat’s traditional support to Palestinians. After the conflicts broke out in West Asia, IUML organised a pro-Hamas rally in Kozhikode, and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor addressed it. Interestingly, Tharoor said while addressing the IUML rally, that Hamas is a terrorist outfit. But, when pseudo-secularists started to attack him, he went back on his words.
Apparently, both Fronts do not see the Government of Bharat’s constructive and positive stand – ‘With Palestine and NO to Hamas terrorism’. They know that once they acknowledge this reality, their ‘secular masks’ will vanish into thin air.
During the CPM-sponsored rally, Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama Mushavara member Mukkam Ummer Faisi performed namaz on the dais itself while CPI national secretary Binoy Viswam was addressing the gathering. It is quite unusual. It has never happened, even during any IUML programme. CPM had issued guidelines for the party ranks in its plenary session in 2013 at Palakkad, preventing them from observing religious practises and keeping away from caste and religious bodies. The paper was reportedly presented by the very same Pinarayi Vijayan, the then-state secretary of the party. Now, Mukkam Ummer Faisi observes namaz in the presence of the same Pinarayi. This is a blatant attempt for religious polarisation leading to political polarisation. Vote is the be all and end all for them !
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