Thiruvananthpuram: The RSS has rallied behind BJP state president P. S. Sreedharan Pillai who has come under attack from various quarters for his controversial speech on the Sabarimala issue.
Mr. Pillai had taken everyone by surprise by stating on Sunday in Kozhikode that a “golden opportunity” was available for the BJP at Sabarimala. Mr. Pillai praised the Yuva Morcha leaders at the meeting for preventing the women devotees from worshipping at Sabarimala. A party source told DC that Mr. Pillai should not have dragged the Sabarimala tantri, Rajeevararu Kantararu, into the controversy. The tantri himself denied that he had talked to Mr Pillai.
“Everyone knows what had transpired between Mr. Pillai and the tantri. But the tantri cannot claim in public that he had sought legal advice from Mr. Pillai,” said the source.
It is said that Mr. Pillai wanted to ensure that the Sabarimala protests were executed by the BJP and not the NSS. But BJP sources said that Mr Pillai had taken NSS general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair into confidence.
“Mr. Pillai has been the legal adviser of Mr. Sukumaran Nair for years now. He is kept informed of the BJP’s game plan. But SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan is sore that he was kept in the dark about the protests planned by the BJP and the NSS,” said the source.
BJP national president Amit Shah had tried to appease Mr Vellapally. Mr Vellapally told DC that the BJP and RSS are like two sides of the same coin.
“Mr. Pillai could have avoided the controversial speech though we know the style of the BJP. He had also appeared for Muslim League leader P. K. Kunhalikutty in the court. These politicians are smart in seeking the support of the masses,” said Mr Vellapally.
