Kerala's renaissance protection drive lost momentum

A 620 kilometre long women's wall formed across Kerala on January 1 heralding gender justice has been a major initiative of the renaissance protection initiates of the ruling left-front in the state in the backdrop of the Sabarimala women entry row. A series of renaissance protection initiatives up to the grass-root level were also announced.

However, the initiatives are now in a catch 22 situation with key persons involved in it expressing differences, even as Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reiterates that the left-front will strive to protect gender justice.

Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) general secretary Vellapally Natesan and Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha leader Punnala Sreekumar were key players in the renaissance protection activities

Natesan said the other day that Pinarayi Vijayan himself wanted to shelve the activities of the renaissance protection forum during the election time. The Chief Minister was concerned if the renaissance protection activities would be misinterpreted as a political campaign during the electioneering, said Natesan.

Punnala Sreekumar said that the statements of some CPM leaders that Sabarimala women entry issue affected the left-front in the Lok Sabha election indirectly means that there was no use in the renaissance protection initiatives. "We strongly disagree with that. However the Chief Minister firmly stated that it was not the Sabarimala women entry issue that affected the left front in the polls and that his government would stand firmly for gender justice. We are now awaiting the final evaluation of the left-front on the poll outcome. Based on that we will decide whether to go ahead with the renaissance protection initiatives or not," said Sreekumar.

Meanwhile, Left Democratic Front convenor in Kerala A Vijayaraghavan said that the renaissance protection activities were not shelved but only paused as the left parties were busy with electioneering. "We will resume the activities shortly and take it up to the grass-root levels," he said.

Sources in the left-front said that since there were allegations that the renaissance protection initiatives were just aimed at the Sabarimala women entry issue, there need to be serious rethinking before initiating further steps in this regard, especially on matters regarding faiths and beliefs.