GNANPEETH award-wining author M T Vasudevan Nair has become the latest target of Sangh Parivar in Kerala for his stand against demonetisation. Nair, the most popular novelist and national award-winning film script writer, was threatened by BJP’s state general secretary A N Radhakrishnan. The BJP leader warned that Nair should remain silent on issues like demonetisation as he has no locus standi in reacting on such matters. The dreadful tirade of Sangh Parivar against Nair has generated huge remonstration among the intellectual and progressive forces.

Nair had on December 27 said that every country which accepted demonetisation had been faced with huge devastation. While citing the experiences of African countries, he said that the life of common people had been distressed by demonetisation which led to destabilisation of economy. He made these remarks while delivering a speech at Thunchan Smarakam – the memorial of Thunchath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, the father of modern Malayalam language -- in Tirur in Malappuram district, after releasing a book on demonetisation written by Kerala finance minister T M Thomas Isaac.

Nair equated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation policy with Muhammed Bin Tughlaq’s reforms. Tughlaq ensured that no one questioned his decisions. But every era witnessed protests against such rulers. Those who possess official positions and even the Reserve Bank of India have been changing their stand frequently. It is high time to resist such reforms, he said. He lauded the commitment of Isaac to fulfil the task of penning a book on the matter.

Soon after the speech was publicised through the media, the BJP leader targeted Nair. His tirade was reiterated by Sangh Parivar activists on various social media platform. Walls of Facebook pages of Sangh activists were flooded with derogatory comments against the writer. BJP leaders, including its state president Kummanam Rajashekharan, justified Radhakrishnan’s stand.

The unprecedented reaction that emerged from the intelligentsia and the socio-political sphere reflected the solidarity of the people with their beloved writer. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Nair had echoed the problems of the common people. BJP and RSS are trying to smudge the beloved writer. Nair became their target as he criticised Modi’s policies which have created havoc in the country.

CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that BJP and RSS have once again proved their fascistic tendencies. All patriots will oppose the Modi’s move to destabilise the economy. Nair has every right to criticize the Prime Minister. It is once again proved that Sangh Parivar will not tolerate any dissent.

Eminent historian K N Panikkar said that a sophisticated society will isolate such forces who try to suppress the voice of well-known writer M T Vasudevan Nair.  Derogatory comments against MT are condemnable and humiliation to the Kerala society. It is a fearful fact that many more such attacks against writers like MT may repeat in future, Panikkar said. Another historian, MGS Narayanan, said that comments against MT reflects the autocratic tendency. No political party has the right to question MT’s right to express his views. Writers like Paul Sacharia, Sara Jospeph, K P Ramanunni, Vaishakhan, K L Mohanavarma, Sethu, M Leelavathi and KEN Kunjahammed criticised the Sangh Parivar activists for their intolerance and expressed solidarity with Nair.