THE CPI(M) Kerala state committee held a massive rally and public meeting extending solidarity with Palestine, in Kozhikode on November 11, the death anniversary of Yasser Arafat, the former president of the Palestinian National Authority. The rally saw massive participation from different class and mass organisations while leaders of several civil society movements and leaders of Left, secular and democratic parties participated in the public meeting that was presided over by P Mohanan Master, the Kozhikode district committee secretary of the CPI(M).

Inaugurating the meeting, Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of Kerala and the Polit Bureau member of the Party expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine who are brutally murdered and attacked by Israel. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led union government of standing with the Israeli occupation forces and the imperialistic block led by the US.

“Thousands of innocent children and women in Gaza are being killed mercilessly by the Israeli forces. The BJP government of our country is standing with Israel, which is not surprising. Israel is following the genocidal approach pursued by Hitler and the Sangh Parivar outfits follow a similar principle. Hitler wished for the abolition of his enemies, Israel and Sangh Parivar in India are operating with similar ideologies”, he said.

Recalling the country’s independent foreign policy rooted in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) which recognised Palestine as a country, Vijayan accused the Congress led government under Narasimha Rao of succumbing to the pressure of the US to recognise Israel and the beginning of diplomatic relations.  “Even before independence and till the 1990s, India had recognised the rights of Palestine and stood with the nation for decades against the occupation of Israel. Israel has been carrying out all the genocidal attacks with the backing of the US all through its history. The imperialist block still prevents Palestine from functioning as a nation”, he said.

Condemning the deviation from NAM positions and the country's alignment as a junior partner with imperialistic forces led by the US, Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the policy shifts of successive union governments. He stated, "Most of the Palestine solidarity rallies and meetings are organised by the CPI(M) and Left parties. Even in the national capital, there are no solidarity meetings organised by major political parties except the Left. With the government being run by the RSS, which draws inspiration from Hitler and Mussolini, they are standing with the Zionist regime, which is not surprising."

Pinarayi Vijayan also condemned the decision of India to abstain from voting in the UN General Assembly calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza, departing from the traditional stand of the country for several decades.

Addressing the solidarity gathering, M V Govindan Master, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and Kerala state secretary of the Party said, “Countries across the globe are unequivocally opposing the attack by Israeli forces on the people of Palestine, supported by the US imperialism. The massive protests across countries, defying even the bans on pro-Palestine rallies are sending a strong message to occupying forces. The inhuman actions carried out by Israel are condemned by all except fundamental and regressive forces and organisations. The CPI(M) will extend support to all those organising pro-Palestine rallies in Kerala”.

The solidarity gathering was addressed by CPI leader and MP, Binoy Viswam; minister for forests, A K Saseendran; minister for ports, Ahamed Devarkovil;   C K Nanu, MLA;  Sahitya Academy winner K P Raman Unni; Writer P K Madhavan; Kozhikode mayor Dr Beena Philip; K E N Kunjahamed; representatives from Kerala Haj Committee; Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama; Muslim Educational Society, and other social and cultural organisations.