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Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 20 (IANS) The political standoff between the Congress-led Opposition and influential community organisations in Kerala sharpened on Tuesday with SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan launching a fresh attack on Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan and demanding that the Congress national leadership clarify its stand.

In a strongly-worded Facebook post, Vellappally accused Satheesan of publicly targeting the SNDP Yogam and questioned whether his remarks reflected the views of the Congress high command.

Describing Satheesan’s approach as rooted in an “upper-caste feudal mindset,” Vellappally alleged that the Opposition leader had adopted a pattern of directly and indirectly criticising religious and community organisations.

He further asked whether Satheesan’s statements were made with the knowledge of Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who frequently invokes the ideals of Sree Narayana Guru, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, seen as a representative of backward and Dalit sections.

By attacking the SNDP Yogam, Vellappally argued, Satheesan was not merely targeting an organisation founded on Guru’s philosophy but questioning the very reformist legacy associated with it.

The SNDP leader also accused Satheesan of political duplicity, alleging that while he publicly claims to reject the patronage of community leaders, he had spent considerable time at the NSS headquarters and made discreet visits to church forums. He termed this a double standard and said such actions contradicted Satheesan’s stated opposition to communal politics.

Satheesan, however, has stood firm despite coordinated criticism from both the SNDP Yogam and the NSS.

Reiterating his position, the leader said he would not retreat “even an inch” from his stand against communalism and clarified that engaging in dialogue with community leaders does not amount to communal appeasement.

He maintained that his remarks were directed against communal politics, not against any specific organisation.

While there was initial unease within the Congress following the backlash, attempts to mobilise internal opposition to Satheesan appeared to fizzle out quickly.

Senior leaders Ramesh Chennithala and K. Muraleedharan publicly backed him, stating that his remarks reflected the position of both the Congress and the UDF.

However, KPCC president Sunny Joseph and UDF convener Adoor Prakash stopped short of offering explicit support, underscoring undercurrents within the party.

The controversy has also altered political alignments.

Following controversial remarks by State Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian, Satheesan has gained visible support from Muslim organisations, with the Indian Union Muslim League openly backing him.

Even within Samastha (a leading Muslim organisation) which has often leaned towards the Left, dissent has surfaced.

Satheesan has also stepped up efforts to consolidate ties with various Christian denominations.

As the row escalates, it has evolved into a wider debate on politics, leadership authority, and the Congress’ engagement with powerful social organisations — an issue likely to have electoral implications in the months ahead.

–IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 10 (IANS) A Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court on Monday refused to intervene based on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed at the court, accusing the Centre of delaying the granting of certificates under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

The petition also argued in the PIL that because of this delay in granting of certificates, the people concerned are unable to make applications under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in 12 Indian states and Union Territories, including West Bengal.

After a hearing in the matter on Monday, the Division Bench of Calcutta High Court’s Acting Chief Justice, Sujoy Paul, and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee observed that submissions could not be entertained under the PIL.

In the PIL filed by a Non-Government Organisation (NGO), it was argued that while on one hand the Union Government was delaying in granting certificates under CAA, on the other hand the ECI was not accepting the receipts for CAA application as documentary evidence on this count for the SIR.

In such a situation, there was every possibility that the individual concerned would not get the voting rights in the Assembly elections in West Bengal scheduled next year, the petitioner argued.

On the other hand, the counsel for the Union government assured the court that the complaints of the petitions on this count would be treated within the next 10 days. The Union Government’s counsel also accused the West Bengal government of delaying forwarding the applications under CAA to the Centre.

As per norm, the state government concerned is supposed to forward the applications under CAA to the Union government within 90 days. The state government’s counsel, in his counterargument, said that there had been instances where applicants concerned directly applied through the CAA portal instead going through the District Magistrates concerned.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 23 (ANS) Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday led her BJP colleagues in campaigning for party candidates contesting the bye-elections in 12 Municipal Corporation of Delhi wards on November 30, a party leader said.

Looking to utilise the last Sunday before the bye-elections for connecting with voters, the BJP candidates from all 12 wards, along with local workers and office bearers, launched a door-to-door campaign from 7.30 a.m., encouraging people to vote for the BJP in next Sunday’s elections.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said that based on the public support received during the party’s pre-election campaign on Sunday, the party’s own internal assessment is that the BJP is winning 11 of the 12 wards, and a major reason for this is our organisational strength, which has the ability to identify its voters and get them to vote.

The highlight of Sunday’s campaign was the seven meetings and public rallies held by Chief Minister Gupta.

The Chief Minister, along with MPs Praveen Khandelwal and Kamaljeet Sehrawat, addressed the ‘Panna Pramukh’ convention in Ashok Vihar and Dwarka B wards and urged party workers to work hard till the last minute to cross-check voter lists and ensure their listed electors cast their votes before lunchtime on voting day on November 30.

At 1.30 p.m., the Chief Minister interacted with voters in Greater Kailash Ward, discussing development and maintenance, attended by RWA representatives from the ward.

Member of Parliament (MP) Bansuri Swaraj, MLA Shikha Roy, and District President Ravindra Chaudhary were also present.

In the afternoon, CM Gupta, along with MP Ramveer Singh Bidhuri, reached Sangam Vihar A Ward and addressed a public meeting on Bandh Road, urging residents to join the Triple Engine Government to ensure the region’s overall development.

She also interacted with prominent members of society at a public convention in Sainik Vihar.

The Chief Minister addressed a public meeting on Sunday evening at F Block Road in Vinod Nagar Ward and said, “I am confident that the people of Vinod Nagar will give a befitting reply to the challenge posed by Arvind Kejriwal by giving a ticket to a former councillor involved in corruption by defeating her.”

Late in the evening, Chief Minister Gupta, while campaigning for the bye-elections in Sangam Vihar A and Narayana Wards, appealed to voters to join the Triple Engine government in solving the area’s water problem and ensuring sanitation.

MP Manoj Tiwari addressed three large gatherings at Swarn Park in Mundka Ward, at Jai Vihar Chhath Ghat in Dhichkaun Kalan Ward, and at Jamrudpur Chaupal in Greater Kailash Ward, which were attended by a large number of people from the Purvanchal community.

Manoj Tiwari said that the Purvanchal community is playing a significant role in driving Delhi’s economy today. The BJP understands the importance of this role, and its direct benefits will be seen in the development of the colonies inhabited by Purvanchal residents.

He said that by recently fulfilling the resolution of Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna, the BJP has fulfilled an old promise to the Purvanchal community after coming to power.

Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra, along with MLA Abhay Verma and Neelam Pehalwan, addressed the Panna Pramukh conference in Dhichkaun Kalan ward in the morning.

In the afternoon, he addressed a conference of beneficiaries of Central government schemes in Narayana ward along with MLA Umang Bajaj and District President Virendra Babbar.

–IANS

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