As the RSS and BJP face clear dividing lines between their supporters and others across the country over the issue of intolerance, and try to significantly improve their electoral presence in Kerala, the RSS mouthpiece, The Organiser, has crafted a narrative of its victimhood at the hands of the CPI (M) in Kerala.
In its latest issue, the publication, in a series of articles on the “Kannur Model” has sought to position the narrative of political violence in Kannur as primarily the result of the politics of the CPI (M).
“In Kerala,” the lead article argues, “which ever political clash we witness, CPM is a common factor on one side. It could be CPM vs Congress, CPM vs RSS, CPM vs BJP, CPM vs Kerala Congress, CPM vs (even) CPI and sometimes (one group of) CPM vs (another group of) CPM. It proves the CPM’s intolerance towards other ideological groups and their ideologies.”
With anecdotes scattered across the last 76 years of history, the lead article further narrates a long history of “murder politics” of the CPI (M), arguing that this history began in the 1940s even before the undivided CPI first came to power in the state. After a lull in the 1950s, it argues, the CPI (M) “after a few years’ of calm, took the violent route again”.
It further argues that large-scale defections from the CPI (M) to the RSS, which “solely” carried on “the fight against the autocratic and dynastic rule” during the Emergency, inaugurated a new pattern of killings, where the CPI (M) attacked its former members who defected to other parties.
In all, it says, “More than 200 Sangh workers have sacrificed their lives for their freedom to choose social and personal life in Kerala, mostly at the hands of CPM criminals. In Kannur alone, 78 swayamsevaks have been killed.”
Interestingly, the article positions the RSS as a peace-maker in the state, arguing that P Parameswaran of the Deendayal Research Institute initiated dialogues with Left leaders including Chief Minister EK Nayanar and VS Achuthanandan, but accuses the CPI (M) of violating understandings arrived at in these dialogues.
“When we take glimpses of the RSS-CPM dialogue,” the article states, “one thing is crystal clear: RSS took the initiatives for the dialogue. Therefore, there is no room for any discussion on who launches political violence in Kerala and who tried their level best to avoid it.”
Another piece titled “The Entrenched Nexus” quotes an unnamed retired police officer to argue that the CPI (M) reserves its politics of violent retribution solely for the Sangh Parivar, and does not react against killing of cadre members by Islamic fundamentalists.
Another article in the issue titled “The Real People’s Initiatives” also positions the RSS as an organization attempting to unionise and work for various groups of labourers in the state, whose efforts were sabotaged by the CPI (M). The article thus argues, “Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar once said 'communist exploit the labourers for their political ends', CPM proves that in Kerala.”
The articles come at time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, campaigning for the BJP in Kerala, claimed that the state had been “destroyed by politics of violence”, and said that the CPI (M)’s candidate for Chief Minister (making reference to Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan) was an accused in a case relating to the murder of a BJP worker in Thalassery some years ago. “Will Kerala’s future be safe in the hands of these people?” Modi further asked his audience.