BJP keeps Vellappally in its fold; Javadekar visits him amid controversy over communal remarks

Alappuzha: Senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar held talks with SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan by visiting his residence at Kanichukulangara. The meeting comes amid controversy over Vellappally’s communal remarks. BJP state and district leaders also accompanied him.

Vellappally has been facing strong criticism for repeatedly making communal remarks, including claims that SNDP was not allowed to establish an educational institution in the Muslim-majority Malappuram district, against the Muslim League. In recent days, he had also courted controversy by referring to a television journalist as a “terrorist”. There has been widespread backlash, including on social media.

Although UDF leaders strongly condemned the comments, neither the CPM nor the BJP issued any statement. Also, the BJP district committee decided at a meeting to mount a political counter-offensive in response to the criticism directed at Vellappally.

Natesan’s son, Thushar Vellappally, serves as the national president of the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), an NDA ally.

(With PTI inputs)