In a significant political move, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala has launched a sharp attack on the state's Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, demanding the immediate and complete public release of a crucial commission report concerning the Christian community.
BJP Accuses Government of Selective Implementation
State BJP vice-president Shaun George, on Friday, vociferously demanded that the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government make the entire Justice J B Koshy commission report public. George drew a stark comparison, pointing out that while the state administration implemented the Paloli Muhammad Kutty report focusing on Muslim minorities in record time, it has been inexplicably sitting on the report pertaining to the Christian community.
His criticism comes in the wake of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's claim that most of the recommendations from the Koshy report have already been executed. This assertion has, however, been met with strong skepticism and sharp criticisms from various Church leaders across the state.
Questions Over Transparency and Benefits
George revealed that even after filing a formal Right to Information (RTI) request, the government failed to provide a clear and substantive response. Instead, officials offered only vague replies citing ongoing departmental studies. "The chief minister should come forward and clarify what tangible benefits the Christian community has actually gained from these so-called implemented recommendations," George asserted.
The commission in question was appointed by the state government in November 2020, a timing noted by many as just before the crucial 2021 assembly elections. Its mandate was to study the various issues and challenges faced by Christian minorities in Kerala. The panel completed its work and submitted the final report to the government in May 2023.
Calls for a Social Audit of Secularism
Expanding his argument, George accused the Congress party of lacking sincerity in following up on the report's implementation. He also highlighted a perceived disparity in the government's approach to different communities. "There was no such concealment when the Sachar committee report was released," he stated.
He further illustrated his point by mentioning that while government benefits were announced for madrasa teachers, similar institutions like Sunday schools were left out. George also commented on the political discourse around secularism, noting, "Political leader K M Shaji's open advocacy for the Muslim community is dubbed as secularism, while SNDP general secretary Vellappally Natesan is accused of being communal when he speaks for his community. There should be a social audit of secularism in the state."
In a final jab at the opposition, George dismissed Congress leader and Opposition Leader V D Satheesan's recent night visit to the Church headquarters in Kakkanad as a mere "media stunt," claiming he left without actually meeting any church authorities.
The demand to publicise the Koshy Commission report has now set the stage for a renewed political debate in Kerala, centering on transparency, minority welfare, and the equitable treatment of different communities by the state government.
