In Kerala, Congress chief Sudhakaran lands in soup over pro-Sangh comments

Sudhakaran’s comments come at a time when the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF has stepped up protests against the Governor, reiterating its fight against the Sangh Parivar with an eye on the Muslim vote bank in the state.

In the past, the Congress’s own ally in Kerala, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), too had taken exception to Sudhakaran’s alleged “pro-Sangh” comments. The ties between the allies have been strained over the Congress’s poor show in the recent Assembly elections and over the “proximity” of some IUML leaders to the CPI(M).

Last year, Sudhakaran had ruffled feathers when he claimed to have offered protection to the RSS shakhas in his home district of Kannur as they allegedly faced threats from the Communists.

The chief of the Congress’s Kerala unit had even said that India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was “magnanimous” enough to induct RSS leader Syama Prasad Mookerjee into his Cabinet, lauding Nehru’s “large-heartedness”.

Meanwhile, the CPI(M), which has never shied away from targeting the Congress in Kerala over its “soft-Hindutva stand”, questioned the grand old party’s secular credentials over Sudhakaran’s Tuesday remarks.

CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan demanded that both the Congress and the IUML should make their stand clear on Sudhakaran backing Khan’s attempt to “saffronise” the higher education sector.

“The Governor is out to shatter the secular fabric of the state. Sudhakaran has openly backed the Governor’s move. Does the Congress subscribe to its state chief’s views? Does the IUML also share the view that eligible RSS persons can be nominated to university senates? This shows the Congress’s soft-Hindutva nature,” Govindan charged.

Fearing backlash over his remarks, Sudhakaran took to social media to explain his position. “This is a bid to depict me as pro-Sangh Parivar. The democratically enlightened people of Kerala would reject such attempts of Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala CM) and his men, who fail to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I will continue my fight against fascism,” he stated in a post on Facebook.

Senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, defended his party colleague. “No Congress leader in Kerala will back the Governor. Sudhakaran wanted to say that eligible persons should be nominated to senates, irrespective of their political affiliations. He has already clarified his stand,” he said.