The CPI(M), which heads Kerala's ruling coalition, disapproved of Beena Philip's comments and termed them violative of its proclaimed policy.
Published Aug 08, 2022 | 6:03 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 08, 2022 | 6:32 PM
Kozhikode Mayor beena Philip (South First)
Kerala’s ruling CPI(M) on Monday took strong exceptions to party leader and Kozhikode Mayor Beena Philip’s participation in an event organised by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliate Balagokulam on Sunday, 7 August.
The party also issued a public censure over Philip’s comments at the event organised to celebrate the upcoming Sreekrishna Jayanthi.
At the function, the college professor-turned-mayor garlanded a bust of Lord Krishna and opined that the state was far behind compared with “North Indian states” in protecting child rights.
A retired college professor who joined the CPI(M) only in 2019, she went on to add that what was more critical than low maternal mortality in the state was the proper upbringing of the child.
“The image of Lord Krishna must be inscribed in the minds of all children. We have to respect all mythological characters and emulate the models set by them. Mothers must inculcate the values of Balagokulam in children and other family members. Mothers would not become angry at their children if they are devotees of Lord Krishna. Children must be taught the values of love and devotion,” said Philip, in contradiction to the party’s core Marxist concept of dialectical materialism.
When her speech and participation courted controversy, Philip told reporters that she never thought of Balagokulam as an offshoot of the RSS, and accepted its invitation after knowing it was a get-together of mothers concerned about inculcating values in their children.
She also said she never thought of seeking the approval of the party to attend a function of Balagokulam. She added that her inaugural speech at the function was quoted out of context by a section of the media holding malicious intent.
CPI(M) district secretary P Mohanan told reporters in Kozhikode on Monday afternoon that the mayor violated the prevailing party policy by attending such a function, which he said was organised as part of efforts to recruit more people into the folds of the Sangh Parivar, especially the BJP and the RSS.
Stating firmly that Balagokulam is an RSS offshoot, Mohanan said the party was publicly rejecting the mayor’s justification of the participation in the event.
He said there was a standing instruction to party leaders and cadres to keep away from programmes organised by Hindutva forces.
Though the function was held on Sunday, it became a significant controversy on Monday morning when the Congress alleged that the mayor’s participation in the function further revealed that the CPI(M) was in cahoots with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state, and that its opposition to Sangh Parivar forces was hollow.
Kozhikode’s District Congress Committee president K Praveen Kumar responded sarcastically to the development, saying that the city got an RSS mayor at the expense of the CPI(M).
He further alleged that the mayor’s participation in the Balagokulam event unveiled the tacit alliance between the CPI(M) and the BJP.
In the meantime, BJP district president VK Sajeevan batted for the mayor, saying she made no mistake and terming the controversy a creation of narrow-minded people.
“It was a cultural event, and it is quite common for people of different political affiliations to come together at such events,” he said.
Sajeevan said his party would extend its complete support to the mayor, who he said had delivered an honest speech.
