Vellappally faces backlash for remarks against Malappuram

Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan faced severe criticism from different sections of society for his remarks against Malappuram district and Muslim community. Mr. Natesan had said that Malappuram was the land of a particular community where backward Ezhava sections were living in fear without being allowed to even breathe freely, and were being denied political and socio-economic freedom.

The All India Youth Federation (AIYF) Nilambur constituency committee filed a complaint with the police against Mr. Natesan for ‘deliberately attempting to cause communal divide in society.’ The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) too filed complaints against the SNDP Yogam leader. The Indian National League (INL) demanded action against Mr. Natesan.

Congress leader A.P. Anil Kumar, MLA, said it was high time the government initiated legal action against Mr. Vellappally. “His was a calculated statement aimed at destroying communal amity in Malappuram. I wonder why Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is still keeping mum,” he said.

Several organisations, including the Solidarity Youth Movement and the Sreenarayaneeya collective, demanded that the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues P. Prasad, P. Rajeeve, V.N. Vasavan, and Saji Cherian should withdraw from the move to felicitate Mr. Natesan when he completes three decades in SNDP Yogam leadership on April 11.

Irrelevant, says IUML

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty dismissed Mr. Natesan’s statement as irrelevant saying that he did not get even the support from a kitten. “His statement was irrelevant and vicious. The less we talk about it, the better,” he said, adding that the whole society had rejected it as bogus.

The INL demanded that Mr. Natesan be removed from the leadership of the Navodhana Samrakshana Samiti.

Former IUML State general secretary K.P.A. Majeed described Mr. Natesan as the biggest opportunist the State ever saw. “Mr. Natesan should have at least asked the SNDP leaders and workers of Malappuram before making such a vicious statement,” said Mr. Majeed.

BJP’s backing

Former BJP State president K. Surendran supported Mr. Natesan saying that he had been right about Malappuram. “It’s a fact. The geography of Malappuram has a unique feature where democracy and secularism do not function,” he said.