C.P.M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan’s controversial statement on Thamarassery Bishop Mar Chittilappilly has been rocking. Many leaders and religious groups came forward in protest against Pinarayi’s statement.

While addressing a public meeting at Thamarassery, Chittilappally had disclosed that the  C.P.M leader late Mathai Chako had contacted him and requested to have last sacrament as in Christian discipline while he was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kochi. Questioning the veracity of his statement, Pinarayi criticized the Bishop in harsh words. Christian minority leaders came against Pinarayi’s attack on a respectable socio-religious personality.

But Pinarayi reiterated his statement and announced that his party also supported Vijayan on this issue. U.D.F leaders like Ramesh Chennithala, Oomen Chandy, M.V. Raghavan came forward against Pinarayi's remarks. Malabar witnessed protest rallies and special processions against C.P.M secretaries’ alleged statement. 

Church people came forward again to disclose more evidence to support Bishop’s statement. They produced the church certificate of Mathayi Chako’s wedding according to a Christian believer's custom.  They tried to state that Chako was a believer and his party didn’t allow him to follow his religious life.  But party men condemns Church allegation and confirmed that Chako was an ideal communist till the last breath and never approached Bishop or churchmen in connection with belief.

But being a top leader of C.P.M Pinarayi could have avoided such kind of unwanted controversy. He could have kept a political decency by restraining from using abusive words against a respectable religious leader. Minority Christian society has now turned against C.P.M. Earlier, L.D.F government’s educational policy invited severe criticism from minority communities. The new controversy added oil to the fire. The statement is seen as a mistake from Pinarayi's part.

First responders and independent thinkers didn’t support Vijayan. Party secretary can’t ignore anyone because of alleged religious connection or belief. Many party leaders and even some ministers are believers. But they keep it as very personal. This doesn’t mean that all party members are either atheist or not.

While churches and Christian institutions were coming against party, one section in the party had different attitude. They believed it is best not to invite Christian fury agaianst the party. It is said that due to pressure form this group, party has gradually loosen its hard stand. As the result of this, C.P.M Kozhikode district secretary T.K. Ramakrishnan clarified that the party was not against any religion. 

It is learned that his statement was the result of a strong pressure on party from one section. Church people had produced some additional documents in proof of Mathayi Chako’s connection with religion.

Open challenges and war of words between party and church have got media attention.  D.Y.F.I, youth organization of party, announced open fight against the church. Now minority in the state is suspicious over party policy. L.D.F government’s education policy had invited severe criticism from minority leaders. While protesting against this, the church people got one more weapon against the government. Some Christian church authorities in the state decided to oust party members from their institution.

A major campaign also planned under ROOPATAS against C.P.M. At the moment, anyway dioceses have become principal rivals of party.