CPM watch on religious places

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Apart from maintenance of law and order, the LDF Government’s recent move to ban shakhas in temple premises is aimed at curbing the misuse of such places by BJP for furthering its political and electoral interests. Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran has reiterated his government’s resolve to free temples and all religious places from shakhas and other activities which disturbed spiritual atmosphere and devotees.

The government has cited high court directive, section 73 of Kerala Police Act: Regulation of Physical training and some of the provisions of the Central Government's “The Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988, in support of its move. The political intent behind the move is to lessen the influence of Sangh Parivar organisations in temple activities.

During the recent detailed Assembly election evaluation carried out by the party at different levels, it found that the BJP had managed to influence voters misusing religious places. The CPM fears that the BJP which tasted success electorally in some constituencies through its "temple strategy", is likely to  experiment it in a bigger way to expand and consolidate its political constituency. Vattiyoorkavu is one constituency where CPM believes the BJP had managed to influence voters through religious places.

According to party leadership, RSS shakhas in temple premises were only a cover for the BJP to carry out its clandestine political activities and influence devotees. The CPM felt that since BJP and RSS had already denied that shakhas were being held in temple premises, it would be difficult for these organisations to publicly oppose government's decision to ban such activities in religious places. However, being a sensitive issue the party wants to tread cautiously. Prior to imposing the curbs, the LDF government is keen to take temple committees, devotees and all take holders into confidence.