Thiruvananthapuram: SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan's criticism of the protests by various Hindu organisations against the Supreme Court verdict on the Sabarimala issue has come as rude jolt to the state BJP leadership. Mr Natesan was apparently waiting for the Nair Service Society to file a review petition on Monday to make clear his stand.
The BJP has been caught unawares by Mr Natesan’s comment that the SNDP Yogam does not support the BJP’s ongoing protest. It has come a day ahead of BJP state president P. S. Sreedharan Pillai’s long march, Samrakshana Yatra, along with the NDA allies. The five-day- march from Pandalam Valiya Koyikkal Dharmasastha Temple to the secretariat will be kicked off at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. National president Amit Shah had given his consent to Mr. Pillai to go ahead with the march just before the core committee meeting held in Kochi. A section of BJP leaders was not keen to have the posters of NDA allies, especially that of BDJS president Tushar Vellapally, in the yatra.
“Amit Shah has expressed his appreciation of the way in which the state BJP leadership has cashed in on the Sabarimala issue. Mr. Pillai was firm that all the allies should be given equal prominence in the long march. There is double standard in Mr Natesan criticising the long march and his son Tushar being a part of the protest,” said a senior BJP leader.
Over the last two years, Mr Natesan has been taking a soft stand towards Mr Pinarayi Vijayan because of the Vigilance case against him on the unaccounted money which he allegedly took for appointments in 16 colleges under SN Trust. A BJP leader quipped, “if Pinarayi will tackle him here, it will be Amit Shah at the centre who would trap him further on the unaccounted wealth.”
However, Mr. Pillai feigned ignorance about Mr Natesan’s criticism against BJP and praising Mr Vijayan on the Sabarimala issue. He told DC that he had informed all the allies about the proposed march against the LDF government’s haste in implementing the court order.
“I had only 24 hours to organise such an important event and I was busy on Tuesday with several matters, including bringing M. A. Hari Kumar, a prominent CPM leader in Alappuzha, to the BJP’s fold. Hence I am unaware of what Vellapally said. I hope that all the allies will take part in the march,” he said.
