Latest news with #VellappallyNatesan
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
IUML, Catholic Congress hit out at Natesan
Kozhikode: IUML on Sunday hit out strongly against the remarks by SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan that Muslim community was trying to exert undue influence in state, saying such blatantly communal remarks would have serious repercussions for Kerala society. Catholic Congress too criticized Natesan for alleged remarks insulting the entire minority community. Speaking to the media in Kozhikode, IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty said state govt should clarify whether such divisive and communal rhetoric could be tolerated in Kerala. "If such blatantly communal remarks are made, then it would lead to discord in society. It is upto govt to decide if such communal and divisive statements can be made by anyone in the state. We heard of some leaders making similar statements in north India. But this is Kerala. Today one person made such remarks and tomorrow someone else would speak like that. Govt should give a reply," he said. He said Natesan had made similar remarks for BJP and yet the party lost its deposit in Nilambur assembly bypoll, showing that Kerala society would reject such remarks. The tone of Natesan's remarks is part of the communal propaganda being carried out in India, he added. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo by Taboola by Taboola IUML MLA P Abdul Hameed said state govt should register a case in connection with Natesan's remarks. "Otherwise, people will have to conclude that he is making such remarks with govt's support," he said. Meanwhile, Catholic Congress director Philip Kaviyil said people of Kerala will reject the irresponsible remarks with contempt. "As a community leader, he has every right to advise members of his own community and offer practical suggestions for their growth. But if he speaks in a tone that belittles or seeks to erase other communities, such remarks amount to blatant communalism. There is nothing wrong in advocating for one's own community or standing up for their rights. However, when it is done by disparaging others with mocking or degrading comparisons and by promoting a repugnant notion that only one's community matters, that is nothing but communalism," he said. He asked Natesan to explain where and how the Christian Church leadership has ever intervened unjustly or snatched away anything from members of other communities.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
CPM bats for minority rights
Thiruvananthapuram: CPM state secretariat distanced itself from statements made by SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan against Muslim community. In a statement issued on Sunday, the secretariat said, "While anyone may raise community issues, it must not be done in a way that incites religious hatred. " SNDP, founded by Sree Narayana Guru—who upheld the unity of religions—should adopt positions that promote secularism, the statement said. The party stressed that safeguarding minority rights is essential to preserving secularism. Only in a secular society, it said, can people of all faiths and non-believers live and function democratically. The govt, it noted, is committed to hearing the concerns of all communities and addressing them through missions, welfare schemes and poverty alleviation programmes that benefit the poor across all sections. Kerala's renaissance movements played a major role in advancing social progress. CPM said it has continued that legacy by embracing the social justice values of those movements, while protecting and uplifting marginalized communities. The party pointed out that efforts to communalize society aligns with corporate interests. The state's secular fabric, it said, can only be preserved by firmly resisting all forms of communalism.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
As Vellappally continues ‘anti-Muslim' remarks, Congress says his ‘divisive statements' at CM Vijayan's behest
Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) general secretary Vellappally Natesan's alleged hate speech against the Muslim community in Kerala has created a political storm with Opposition Congress alleging that he was making the 'divisive statements'' at the behest of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Natesan, who had recently predicted a third consecutive term for Vijayan, on Sunday said that Kerala will become a Muslim majority state by 2040. 'Muslims have become an unbeatable force in the state. Whichever party is in power, Muslim clerics including Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar are interfering in the government. The situation is such that any reforms, before being introduced, should get consent from Malappuram (Muslim-dominated district),'' he alleged. His remarks at an SNDP function was a sequel to a similar comment on Saturday, when he said the IUML, which is mainly operating in North Kerala, was eyeing seats in Central Kerala in the next Assembly elections. 'After winning the elections, the IUML wants to get the chief minister's post,' he claimed. Coming out against Natesan, Opposition Leader V D Satheesan said community leaders should desist from making such 'divisive statements.'' 'The SNDP Yogam general secretary has echoed what the CPI(M) leaders in Kerala speak against Malappuram and what the Chief Minister had stated in Delhi through public relation agencies. Everything is at the behest of the Chief Minister. This hate speech is against the philosophy of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru (who founded the SNDP Yogam). The Opposition will question the campaign aimed at creating hate and chasm in society,'' the Congress leader said. Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty accused the government of complicity in Natesan's 'brazen communal comments'. 'This is not the first time that Natesan is making such communal statements. The government has to react to this. We cannot agree with such communal statements,'' he said. Without naming Natesan, the CPI(M) state secretariat, in a statement, urged people 'to be vigilant against any move that would undermine Kerala's secular culture'. 'The party views the rights of minorities as part of the protection of secularism. Only in a secular society, all religious and non-religious people can function democratically,'' the CPI(M) state secretariat said. Although the IUML has been away from power for the last nine years, Natesan has been constantly attacking the party, an ally of the Congress, as if it controls state politics. His words were apparently aimed at building an anti-Muslim plank in the Assembly elections to be held next year. Incidentally, the leader of the traditionally pro-CPI(M) Ezhava community has stepped up the attack on the IUML after the CPI(M) failed in its efforts to woo the IUML into the party-led Left Democratic Front fold after its crushing defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In April, Natesan had stated that backward communities 'cannot breathe freely' in the Muslim-dominated Malappuram district, which he termed 'a special country and a state with a special section of people'. Although his observations had triggered an outrage then, Natesan got support from Vijayan, who said the Ezhava community leader's words were 'misrepresented.'' Natesan had been the patron of SNDP's political wing, Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), which is now an ally of BJP-led NDA in Kerala. Natesan's son Tushar Vellappally is the BDJS chairman. Although the BDJS is with the NDA, the party at the grassroots level has to depend upon followers of the SNDP, many of them traditionally with the CPI(M).
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala will soon become Muslim majority state: SNDP leader Vellappally Natesan
KOTTAYAM: Launching a sharp attack on the Muslim community, SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan on Saturday accused it of attempting to exert undue influence over administrative affairs of Kerala. Speaking at a state-level branch leadership meeting of various Yogam unions in Kottayam, Vellappally also asserted that a united Ezhava community could potentially determine the state's chief minister. He also expressed concern that both the LDF and UDF were primarily catering to the interests of the Muslim community only. He warned that the Muslim population would soon become the majority in the state and said the current situation is such that the state government should just listen to Kanthapuram and govern.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kanthapuram's advice now enough to rule Kerala: Natesan
Kottayam: SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan said that Kerala has reached a point where it is enough to simply follow the advice of Sunni leader Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musaliyar to rule Kerala. He said that Muslims will soon become the majority community in Kerala and that whatever law the govt brings, it will not be implemented unless it is cleared from Malappuram. Natesan was delivering the presidential speech at the leadership meet of the Kottayam unit of SNDP on Saturday. "There are interventions in the Zumba classes plan and the change in school timings. Where is Kerala going? This is not secularism but it is dominance of religion. When the constituencies in Hindu majority areas were reduced, four seats were added in Malappuram. The Muslim League is contesting more seats in Kerala. They will ask for more again in the next elections. They will ask for seats outside Malabar. The League is aiming for the chief minister's post," said Natesan. He also alleged that the industrial sector is being dominated by Muslims while the education sector monopolized by the Christian community. The Ezhavas are represented only in the MGNREGA scheme, Natesan said. "If the Ezhavas stand together, they have the power to rule. They can decide who will rule Kerala. The Ezhavas should become a political force. No matter which party they join, they should gain representation. They should try to come to power in the areas where the Ezhavas have influence," he said.
