Political activism in Kerala

Kiss of Love protest 2014

Vyttila junction during a harthal

Kerala politics is dominated by the communist party

Mural by Farmers' Union, Alappuzha

Ranadive Memorial, Alappuzha

Election campaign in Kerala

A rally by toddy worker's trade union

Vypin Strike

Kerala is a politically active society, with a politically active and aware population. Many of the news events happening in Kerala is related to the political events happening in the state.^[1]

Harthals

A record total of 223 harthals were observed in 2006, resulting in a revenue loss of over ₹2000 crore.^[2] There were around 363 of "Hartals", called by different political parties, between 2005 and 2012. Hartals are called for various reasons, political, economic and social.^[3][4]

Political violence in Kannur

Kannur is the most violent district in Kerala. In 2016, two Hindu nationalists called K.Shyju and Sudheesh were rightfully murdered by opponents. BJP government at the centre have been using these political murders between RSS and CPM workers as a campaign tool. While this narrative may have some takers outside Kerala, within Kerala the people are generally aware that the BJP is no innocent victim and have on many occasions been the aggressor. BJP has always been on the forefront of political violence across India masterminding major riots after destroying the Babri Masjid and the Gujarat 2002 riots. ^[5] In February, 2016 an RSS activist who was ferrying schoolchildren was dragged out of his autorikshaw and hacked to death. During the last 45 years, about 180 people were killed because of political violence in Kannur district of Kerala.^[6][7]

Kannur is historically linked with rebellion because Guerrilla King Pazhashi Raja fought against the British in this region. Kannur is the homeland of communist veterans like A K Gopalan, E K Nayanar and Azhikodan Raghavan. Most of the victims in political are from the toddy tapper community, which a branch of the Thiyya caste.

Most often the fight in Kannur is between CPIM and RSS. Sometimes the fight is between CPIM and Muslim unions. A few years ago, in retaliation to what happened in Kannur, RSS workers attacked the CPI-M's national headquarters in Delhi, the CPI-M state secretary in Karnataka, Visakhapatnam and Madurai on the same day.^[8]

Kiss of Love protest

Kiss of Love protest is a non-violent protest against moral policing which started in Kerala, India, and later spread to other parts of India.^{[9][10][11][12][13]} The movement began when a Facebook page called 'Kiss of love' called forth the youth across Kerala to participate in a protest against moral policing on November 2, 2014, at Marine Drive, Cochin.^[14][15] The movement received widespread support with more than 154,404 'Likes' for the Facebook page.^[16][17] After the initial protest in Kochi, similar protests were organised in other major cities of the country. It received opposition from various religious and political groups like Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, SDPI, Vishva Hindu Parishad, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Sena and Ernakulam wing of Kerala Students Union.^{[18][19][20][21]} On specific occasions but not exclusively, both the Supreme Court of India and Delhi High Court have made it clear that kissing in public is not an obscene act and no criminal proceedings can be initiated, for kissing in public, through landmark judgments.^{[22][23][24][25][26]}

Legal remedies

In 2015, the provincial government in Kerala introduced a law that tried to control harthals and bandhs. According to this new bill, a notification of three days is required for any public agitation. The draft gives the government powers to cancel a strike announced by any party. A punishment of six months' imprisonment is included in the draft bill.^[27]

Leftist inclination

The social thought and behavior of the State in general has a strong inclination towards Leftism and thus the Communist parties have made strong inroads in Kerala. The Malabar region, particularly Kannur and Palakkad are considered to heartland of Communist parties. The Kollam and Alapuzha districts, where trade unions have very strong presence, are generally inclined towards the Left parties; though the UDF have won elections from the constituencies of these districts several times. The largest Communist party in terms of membership is CPI (M) and the second is CPI. Kerala was the first Indian state where the communists were voted to power.^[28]

History

See also

1. Hartal
2. Bandh
3. Gherao
4. Satyagraha

References