CPM leader calls Malappuram 'nest of fundamentalists', Keralam CM demands apology

Nandakumar, a former MLA, allegedly made the remarks during his welcome address at an extended CPI(M) district committee meeting in Malappuram on Saturday. Vijayan and other senior party leaders attended the event.

In Short

• P Nandakumar calls Malappuram a nest of fundamentalists, sparking outrage
• Satheesan demands apology from CPI(M) and party leader Pinarayi Vijayan
• CPI(M) denies communal intent, blames IUML for communal politics

Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Sunday accused the CPM of targeting Malappuram with communal remarks and demanded an apology after party leader P Nandakumar allegedly described the district as a “nest of fundamentalists and communalists”.

Satheesan also asked Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPM central leadership to clarify their position, saying the remarks were made in Vijayan’s presence without any objection.

“Strongly condemn the communal slurs made by CPM leader P Nandakumar denigrating the people of Malappuram as fundamentalists,” Satheesan said in a post on X.

Nandakumar, a former MLA, allegedly made the remarks during his welcome address at an extended CPM district committee meeting in Malappuram on Saturday. Vijayan and other senior party leaders attended the event.

SATHEESAN DEMANDS APOLOGY

Satheesan said the absence of any objection from Vijayan or the party amounted to “tacit endorsement” of the remarks.

He alleged that Nandakumar’s comments were a continuation of Vijayan’s “anti-Malappuram” statements in an interview with a national daily when he was chief minister.

The Chief Minister accused the CPM of continuing to target specific communities despite its Assembly election defeat, saying its “dog-whistle politics” mirrored the Sangh Parivar’s approach.

“Both the CPM and P Nandakumar must tender an unconditional apology to the people of Keralam,” he said.

Satheesan warned that anyone spreading communal hatred would face strict legal action.

Several organisations, including the Muslim Youth League, have filed complaints against Nandakumar, according to police.

CPI(M) DEFENDS ITS STAND

CPM state secretary M V Govindan said on Sunday that the party had never made communal remarks about Malappuram. Its criticism, he said, concerned the influence of communalism on political parties such as the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

Speaking to reporters, Govindan said the CPM’s position was that Jamaat-e-Islami’s influence was pushing IUML members towards communalism in Malappuram and elsewhere in Keralam.

- Ends