Kerala blasts: BJP sees link with ‘increasing support for Hamas’, its real aim Left and Congress

In a post on X, CPI(M) MP John Brittas, in response to Chandrasekhar, said, “A person named Martin who was previously with the same organisation has surrendered and investigation is on but am aghast to see foregone conclusions being drawn by important functionaries. Kerala may disappoint them again.”

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According to the state police, the blast at the Jehovah’s Witness gathering was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED). Central agencies such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Security Guard (NSG) had already started their investigation into the incident, Muraleedharan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

The blast occurred at a time when the heat of the Israel-Palestine conflict was already being felt in Kerala, where the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) — the two major political fronts — have traditionally backed the Palestinian cause. The state has seen marches and conventions being organised to condemn Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and declare solidarity with Palestinians. Both the LDF and the UDF have been treading cautiously to avoid allegations of appeasement.

The BJP on Sunday criticised the mainstream parties over former Hamas chief Khaled Mashal addressing a pro-Palestine rally organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami’s youth wing Solidarity Youth Movement in Malappuram on Friday.“This explosion took place amid the increasing support for Hamas from the mainstream parties in the state. We have seen conventions and programmes that Hamas leaders virtually attend in this state. Another meeting also had a virtual address by the Hamas leaders,” Surendran told The Indian Express.

Surendran alleged such meetings and support for Palestine were part of the Left and the Congress’s efforts to take a share of the Muslim support base in the wake of the Central government’s ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI).

“There is a strong support base for the PFI in the state and both the CPI-M and the Congress are now trying to get a share of it. That’s the reason behind this support,” said the state BJP leader, claiming that there had been minor explosions in the past too in Ernakulam. “This is the outcome of the soft approach of the mainstream parties to terror outfits,” he added.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar minced no words in his post on X. “Price of appeasement politics of Cong and CPM will always be borne by innocents of all communities — That is what history has taught us. Brazen appeasement politics — shameless even by Cong/CPM/UPA/INDI alliance standards to invite Terrorist Hamas to spread hate & call for ‘Jihad’ in Kerala. This is height of irresponsible madness politics. Enough,” he wrote.

Quoting former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Union Minister said, “You can’t keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbors. You know, eventually those snakes are going to turn on whoever has them in the backyard.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leaders stuck to condemning the incident and calling for everyone to wait for what the investigation agencies find. “Details are awaited,” Vijayan said.

Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden of the Congress said leaders and the administration were trying to reach out to victims with medical assistance. “It is too early to make any judgment here. The priority is to ensure treatment for those who are injured. We do not want to create a panic situation,” Eden said.

However, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan, who is in Delhi at present, said the explosion was a move to divert attention from the Palestine issue and the state’s support for Palestinians. “When Kerala stands united with the people of Palestine, any terrible action to divert attention from it will entail strict action. The government and all democratic persons will together condemn it,” he said.

Left, Congress apprehensive

Leaders from both the Congress and the Left expressed apprehension that the BJP, which has been trying to make inroads in Kerala, would use the incident to “exploit anti-Muslim feelings among a section of Hindus and Christians in the state”. A Left leader said, ”BJP’s attempts to woo Christians, although it could make impacts in some pockets, were dampened by the developments in Manipur. Now they could use this incident to win them back.”

Muraleedharan’s remark referring to the blasts as “terror activity against a Christian gathering” indicates that is the strategy, the Left leader added.

The BJP has been trying to capitalise on perceived disenchantment among Christian leaders about Muslims as well as over the growing influence of Muslims in the Congress-led UDF coalition. While there have been some voices of concern within the Christian community that have cautioned Church leaders against trying to get closer to the BJP, the church leadership, including some from the influential Roman Catholic Church, have expressed keenness in engaging with the BJP. The violence against Christians in Manipur had adversely affected the BJP’s efforts to consolidate itself among the community.