What do you call a political philosophy that tries to kill an Independent candidate for merely contesting an election? How do you qualify an ideology that hurls a bomb at a woman’s house in the middle of the night for exercising her right to franchise after missing out earlier due to bogus voting? Would you call it Communism or should it be termed as Fascism?
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who embodies the ‘Kannur Model’ of Marxism and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan are both answerable to the public for these events that took place in Kannur during the Lok Sabha election.
C O T Nazeer, a former CPI (M), a Local Committee member, who contested as an independent candidate from Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency was waylaid and hacked by a bike-borne gang in a place where nothing takes place without the knowledge of the CPI (M).
Shalet, a young woman from Pilathara in Kannur had returned in dismay after finding her vote already cast by someone else on April 23. Following a series of complaints against the local CPI (M) leaders and, only during the re-poll could Shalet cast her vote.
Who hurled a bomb at her house in the middle of the night after she exercised her democratic right as a citizen? Another bomb was hurled at the Pilathara Congress booth agent’s house at night. The needle of suspicion points towards the same suspects in both instances.
Who would have an issue if C O T Nazeer contests as an independent candidate in a constituency where the LDF candidate is the former CPI (M) Kannur District Secretary P Jayarajan? Nazeer is a former CPI (M) leader and former Thalassery Municipal Councillor representing the Marxist party.
Nazeer was also an accused in a case of pelting stones at former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s vehicle. He had personally met Chandy and had apologized to him in that regard. Nazeer had abandoned the CPI (M)’s ideology. It wouldn’t be too hard to guess the party affiliation of Nazeer’s attackers. It is also not tough to understand why only Nazeer was singled out among all the Independent candidates contesting from Kerala.
Meanwhile, CPI (M) State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan reacted to it by commenting: “Who would use a gun to swat a fly?”
Throughout the election, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had proclaimed that it was not his party’s policy to physically eradicate opponents. It would seem from Balakrishnan’s statement that using a gun for a tougher opponent is warranted.
In a place where from morning to dusk they proclaim women’s equality and rights, do they also hurl bombs at the houses of women in the cover of darkness? And then they mock a fellow human being and former comrade recouping in hospital with severe stab injuries.
This is not Communism but the Kannur brand of Fascism. It might soon lead them to annihilation in Kerala just as it happened in West Bengal and Tripura. The election results hold the key.
The article was written on May 20. Translated by Sangita Harry; Edited by Anand Kochukudy
