Run for Unity, the marathon conceived and called by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, BJP-led NDA’s prime ministerial candidate, for paying tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on Sunday sparked an interesting political controversy in Kerala with PC George, chief whip of the Congress-led UDF Government, flagging off the event at Kottayam.
Hundreds joined the marathon organised as part of efforts for erecting a statue of Sardar Patel in his home State, Gujarat, was held at the district centres in Kerala. In Thiruvananthapuram, the run was flagged off by Swami Guruprasad of the Sivagiri Dharmasangham Trust. Hundreds, including State BJP president V Muraleedharan, took part in it.
While the Congress and Youth Congress and detractors in his own Kerala Congress (M), third biggest constituent of the ruling UDF, launched a severe attack against him, the State and national leaderships of the BJP and several distinguished personalities came out in support of George, who had recently irked the Congress with his attacks against Rahul Gandhi’s policies.
The Congress and its allies fear that George’s appearance at such an important programme organised by the BJP could act as a boost to the campaigns in favour of Narendra Modi in Kerala, especially in the context of the row going on between the BJP and the Congress-UPA over Sardar Patel’s personality and his place in Indian history.
“Action should be taken against George immediately,” State Congress spokesman Pandalam Sudhakaran said. The Youth Congress termed George as an ungrateful politician while Finance Minister KM Mani, chairman of the Kerala Congress (M), said the party would discuss the matter but his statement failed to convince George’s detractors in the party.
However, George, vice-chairman of the Kerala Congress (M), remained unfazed. “As per my conscience, there was nothing wrong in it. Today is Sardar Patel’s 63rd death anniversary and I would participate in any programme meant to pay tributes to him even if it is organised by Maoists. After all, Modi is Gujarat Chief Minister and he is not an untouchable,” he said.
George had appeared on the stage of the programme with a saffron scarf printed with BJP’s lotus worn around his neck as per the invitation from the district BJP leadership. What irked his detractors in the Kerala Congress (M) and enemies in the Congress most was his act of unveiling the saffron T-shirt bearing pictures of Narendra Modi on both sides.
“What is strange about itIJ This was a Gujarat Government initiative and the picture of their Chief Minister being featured in it is not surprising,” he said. Asked whether he had taken the permission of his party or the UDF, George said, “I didn’t feel the need of seeking permission from anyone for taking part in a programme organised to pay tributes to India’s Iron Man.”
“There is no use (calling for action against George). George doesn’t listen to Mani. There’s no point in discussing the deeds of such people,” said senior Congress leader Rajmohan Unnithan. “George should have used his sense of appropriateness before taking part in the programme. Our party has nothing to do with his act,” said Kerala Congress (M) general secretary Antony Raju.
The BJP came out in support of George. In Delhi, senior BJP leader Minakshi lekhi said those who were questioning should be questioned. “We welcome any statement that praises Modi and the work of his Government,” State BJP president V Muraleedharan said. State BJP general secretary K Surendran said that those who were attacking Modi earlier were now praising him.