THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the CPM state conference is fast nearing, the new-found love of the Red brigade for Jesus Christ has placed a real cross in front of it even when party satraps are confidently countering it witht he explanation that “Christ is the greatest revolutionary the world has even seen.’’ A huge portrait of Jesus Christ depicting him as a ‘liberation warrior,’ placed in the Putharikandam grounds here, has caught the attention of all detractors of the CPM, including the Catholic Church and various political parties. With a controversy catching up with the CPM, it is all set to become a topic of debate in the public domain of the state where religion holds a big sway.The political fallout of the development and the vote bank character of the state polity have given a new dimension with both the Church and the political parties in the Congress umbrella in the state making an all-out bid to expose the CPM. A select few in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church have come out strongly against the CPM moves. Fr Paul Thelakkat, spokesman of the Syro- Malabar Catholic Church, termed the moves as something born out of the realisation that the Marxist ideology has failed. “It is a welcome sign that the CPM is now embracing Christ. May be, they have realised that Marxism has fallen behind,’’ he averred.CPM leaders, particularly of the official faction, are making serious attempts to wriggle out of the controversy by putting up a brave face. “As a liberation warrior, Christ was always revered by one and all,’’ said CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. M V Jayarajan, another prominent leader, has even equated Jesus Christ with the reigning party national general secretary Prakash Karat, clearly showing that giving a slot for Christ in the exhibition was not a casual decision.Fr Mani Puthiyidam, PRO of the Changanassery archdiocese of the Syro- Malabar Church, however, is of the view that the statements of CPM leaders might be an attempt to create confusion among the faithful. KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala has compared the CPM move with the attempts of Satan to tempt Jesus Christ. “Satan had tried to tempt Jesus Christ in a desert. Now the CPM is trying it with Christ,’’ he ridiculed.P T Thomas MP was even more critical against the CPM and described the attempts to lap on Jesus Christ as a fourth-rate political fraud.“After speaking foul of the Church all these years, is it only in 2012 that CPM leaders have realised that Christ is the great liberator and revolutionary the world has ever seen,’’ he asked.“The CPM strategy may sell at party meets. But committed CPM men may not be able to digest it, when a different doctrine is fed,’’ he said. The issue is likely to create more ripples in the coming days, which is bound to leave CPM, which is known to adopt a tactical political line from time to time, in a spot.
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