Narayana guru body to provide 'issue-based' support to VHP

SNDP Yogam, founded by saint-reformer Sree Narayana Guru, has extended "issue-based support" to VHP on matters concerning interest of backward Hindus, particularly the Ezhava community.
The Left parties, however, took a dim view of the SNDP's move towards 'Hindutva forces", arguing that it went totally against the ideals of Sree Narayana Guru whose central message was "one caste, one religion, one god for man".
Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) is an influential organisation of numerically strong backward Hindu Ezhava community, considered to be the single largest vote base of Communist parties in Kerala.
Talking to PTI, SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan allayed apprehensions raised by CPI(M) over its decision to provide support to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, saying it was "totally issue-based."

He also alleged that the Left parties and the Congress did nothing much for the uplift of people belonging to Ezhava community, saying they still face social, political and economic discrimination in the state.
Natesan also accused both the CPI(M) and Congress of "succumbing to the pressure tactics of organised minority Christians and Muslims" in the state.

Last week, Praveen Togadia, working president of the VHP, had attended various programmes organised by the SNDP Yogam and extended support to the Ezhava community in its efforts to build institutions in various sectors, including medical education and farming.
"How can we ignore VHP when they extend their support to Yogam to establish a medical college in the high range district of Idukki?

"The CPI(M) has not extended any such support so far. If they support us in our bid for development, we will return the favour to them also," Natesan said when asked about the CPI(M)'s opposition.
Reacting sharply to the Yogam's association with the VHP, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said "the RSS would swallow the SNDP Yogam in future."
On being asked whether SNDP Yogam would support VHP's move to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya, Natesan merely said: "Our support to the VHP is issue-based. We will associate with them in whichever areas where we could associate.