CPM to give a renaissance message on Sreekrishna Jayanthi

KANNUR: In a move to take on the Shobha Yathra organised by the Sangh Parivar under the aegis of Balagokulam on Sreekrishna Jayanthi, the CPM has decided to organise a campaign from August 24 to 28, highlighting the contributions of the renaissance leaders.
As part of this the CPM would organise a campaign against communalism and religious extremism, which would begin on August 24, the Sreekrishna Jayanthi day, and conclude on August 28.
Announcing this at a press conference here on Wednesday, CPM district secretary P Jayarajan said the celebrations have nothing to do with Sreekrishna Jayanthi, and the party is organising the programme to reach the ideals of the renaissance leaders like Chattampi Swamikal, Sree Narayana Guru and Ayyankali to the people to sensitise them about our history in the backdrop of increasing communalism.
“We are facing the threats of communalism and religious extremism today and hence the people should know our history and the contributions of the great leaders who fought against such vices, so we selected this occasion, as the birthday of Chattampi Swamikal falls during this period,” said Jayarajan.
Observing that these renaissance leaders always upheld their principles against communal and religious fundamentalism, Jayarajan said casteism and communalism are making a comeback in Kerala.
However, colourful processions would be held at local level in the district on the day of Sreekrishna Jayanthi to mark the beginning of the campaign, he said. The house campaigns would be held for the next three days.
Though the party claimed it has nothing to do with Sreekrishna Jayanthi, the politics behind is clear, and the CPM wants to resist the Sangh Parivar, which is fast making inroads into the society and grabbing the cultural space, too, thus posing challenges to the CPM. The party leadership also said the Shobha Yathra is a creation of the Sangh Parivar in the 1970s and it has a communal agenda.
Last year also the CPM had observed Sreekrishna Jayanthi in the guise of the culmination of the Onam Celebration. Later, the Ganesholsavam was also celebrated by certain groups that joined the CPM fold after leaving the BJP-RSS.