Southern States - Kerala   

CPI(M)-IUML spat marks a new turn

By C. Gouridasan Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM May 25. The links between the CPI(M) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML, cordial so far despite the two parties being in opposite political camps, have hit a new low following the acrimonious exchanges between the two during the last few days.

The CPI(M) State secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, had fired the first salvo with an edit page article in the party organ, Deshabhimani, accusing the Muslim League of being soft on the Hindutva forces even while claiming to protect Muslim interests.

He has been unsparing in his criticism of the IUML in his subsequent utterances as well.

The IUML leadership has been equally sharp in its response and has, through statements of leaders published in the party organ, Chandrika, accused Mr. Vijayan of having stooped too low to defame the party.

There are now signs of the acrimony percolating to lower levels.

The Deshabhimani reported today from Kannur that activists of certain Muslim communal outfits had distributed pamphlets in mosques in the district on Friday accusing the CPI(M) of being worse Hindu fundamentalists than the Sangh Parivar. The report alleged that this was done with the connivance of Muslim League leadership.

There are three interesting aspects to these exchanges. The first is that it adds a new dimension to the Left-Muslim League dialogue on the question of secularism and religious extremism.

The second is that it cannot but impact the dialogue within the CPI(M) on the question of secularism and the party's perceptions about organisations claiming to represent minority interests. And the third aspect is the way it would reflect on inter-party relations in the UDF and the LDF.

While the reasons and the possible course of the current exchanges would be hard to guess, the issues they raise are important.

For instance, it is common knowledge that despite political compulsions keeping them apart, the CPI(M) and the Muslim League share a lot when it comes to the question of Hindu fundamentalism. T

hough the shades of the extreme in the Muslim organisational collective might be a little too sour for the CPI(M) palate, there is a whole lot of mutual regard for the role each have played in the struggle against cult of minority-bashing.

The leadership of most parties are wont to push the core issues under the carpet for the sake of political expedience and the current exchange between the CPI(M) and the IUML might also meet the same fate when times change and both find it more fruitful to resume the non-verbal dialogue of mutual profit.

But the issues they have unwittingly touched upon would continue to trouble the thinking and discerning sections within both the parties.

They may not be concerned about the value judgement that Mr. Vijayan attempted with his statements, but about the path ahead and the allies and antagonists of tomorrow.

The second aspect is also relevant, affecting as it does, the two streams of thought within the CPI(M) on the question of allying with Muslim political outfits (read Muslim League).

The CPI(M) politburo member and Leader of the Opposition, V. S. Achuthanandan, has been consistent in his opposition to any ties with communal outfits and he had dared even the venerable E.M.S. Namboodiripad, on this issue.

The subject is certainly not one uppermost in the minds of party leaders now, though a trace of the thinking could be discerned in several of their words and deeds. Political leaders' burial tactics notwithstanding, such issues could once again become prime debating points.

As for the third aspect, the happiest by the turn over events must be the UDF managers for whom watching each move of the Muslim League with apprehension has become a habit.

If CPI(M)-Muslim League relations remain strained, that is not an insignificant relief for them. Ditto in the LDF and the reasons are not far to seek.

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