PATHANAMTHITTA: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is facing a wave of criticism for alleged “double standards” after the party’s Pathanamthitta District Secretary, Raju Abraham, claimed that parody songs based on devotional tracks hurt religious sentiments. Critics are pointing to the party’s own history of penalizing members for expressing faith, calling the current stance a political gimmick.
The controversy erupted following the viral success of a parody song titled ‘Pottiye Kettiye’, which reportedly influenced voters during local elections. While the CPM has voiced outrage over the song, political observers have been quick to remind the public of the 2006 incident involving two of the party’s own MLAs.
The 2006 Purge: When God was an ‘Insult’
In 2006, when Raju Abraham himself was a legislator, the CPM state leadership—then led by Pinarayi Vijayan—publicly censured and humiliated MLAs M.M. Monayi and Aisha Potti. Their “crime” was taking their oath of office in the name of God rather than making a solemn affirmation.
According to the party’s 2006 organizational document:
”Comrades Monayi and Aisha Potti, despite being Area Committee members, insulted the party by publicly displaying their secret religious beliefs… A party member must stand firm in Dialectical Materialism.”
The fallout was severe. M.M. Monayi was effectively sidelined from public life, and Aisha Potti’s political career was significantly curtailed. Over the years, numerous grassroots workers have faced disciplinary action for performing house-warming rituals or conducting their children’s weddings in temples or churches.
The Gold Scam Shadow
The Congress party and other critics have mocked the CPM’s newfound “concern” for religious sentiments. They point out that while the party fumes over a parody song, it has remained largely silent regarding high-ranking leaders involved in the Sabarimala gold theft case.
Former Devaswom Board Presidents and CPM leaders A. Padmakumar and N. Vasu have been in remand for over a month in connection with the gold scam. “Those who feel no pain over the theft of Lord Ayyappa’s gold are now beating their chests over a song,” a Congress spokesperson remarked.
