Author: J. Gopikrishnan
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: July 4, 2008
As per the Communist Party of India-Marxist
(CPI-M) brand of 'secularism', backing Muslims on the Amarnath shrine land
transfer issue is the order of things. But when it comes to allowing a party
MP from the same community to practice his religious beliefs, the knives are
brought out against him.
The CPM has censured and demoted its Kerala
MP Abdullah Kutty for travelling to Mecca for performing Umrah two weeks ago.
The young MP from Kannur, who went to Mecca in the first week of June, invited
the wrath of the party's State unit for "defying" the party's ideology.
The district committee took disciplinary against
him on June 19 and demoted him to a simple member in the local committee.
Prior to the action against him, Kutty was an area committee member.
Incidentally, the party first "charge-sheeted"
him for having performed the religious ceremony in Mecca. Later, conscious
of the fact that the decision could invite backlash from the Muslim community,
the party claimed Kutty was punished for delivering a speech against bandhs
and hartals.
But talking to The Pioneer over phone, Kutty
said: "Disciplinary action was initiated against me after I returned
from Mecca. The so-called controversial speech is an old issue anyway. A number
of leaders had aired the same view on bandhs and hartals."
He added, "The timing of the party's
disciplinary action against me has made people believe that I have been convicted
for performing Umrah. But the party denies that the action was caused by my
having undertaken the religious trip."
Kutty refused to comment further, saying,
"I am a dedicated party member and can't clarify all your queries since
I have been censured."
Party insiders feel that Kutty has been penalised
by CPI(M)'s State secretary and Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan for his
allegiance to the rival faction, led by Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan.
