Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi founder Thol. Thirumavalavan said on Friday that the CPI(M)’s decision to take part at temple festivals to counter the politics of the RSS and the BJP risked “diluting” the Left’s resistance to the Sangh Parivar. He, however, said this “strategy could not be completely rejected”.
He told The Hindu that the BJP and the RSS had turned the charge that they were a majoritarian and divisive force since the 1980s to their advantage by claiming that they were a party for the Hindus.
“They are attacking those who profess faith in progressive politics by calling them enemies of Hindus. We are being called anti-Hindu even when we are only attacking the inequalities within the Hindu religion and their politics of spreading hate against the minorities. We are also attacked on the pretext that we don’t wish people on Hindu festivals. To defeat this narrative, it is probably the right move [to take part at temple festivals],” Mr. Thirumavalavan said.
