War of words breaks out between CPI(M), Church leadership in Kerala over ‘Sangh Parivar affinity’

A bitter war of words has broken out between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and certain entities in the Church leadership in Kerala. 

The current battle centres around the CPI(M)‘s repeated accusation that certain bishops broadcast a predilection towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while “expediently turning a blind eye to” spiralling attacks against Christians and the clergy by Hindu right-wing organisations in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled States in north India. 

CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan singled out Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany of Thalassery for criticism at a public meeting in Thaliparambu on Monday (August 11, 2025).

Mr. Govindan said he was intentionally naming Bishop Pamplany to spotlight the prelate’s “vacillating positions” vis-à-vis the Sangh Parivar.

He stated that Bishop Pamplany mooted a rethink of the Church’s relationship with the Central government after “the Sangh Parivar-controlled BJP government” in Chhattisgarh arrested and incarcerated two Kerala nuns after Bajrang Dal activists accused them of human trafficking for conversion to Christianity.

“When the court belatedly released the nuns on bail, the Bishop praised Modi and Shah, conveniently papering over the BJP’s culpability in the nuns’ ordeal”, he stated.

Mr. Govindan alleged that Church representatives went with cakes to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) office in Kannur. “Such brazen opportunism does not augur well for secularism, democracy or minority rights,” he said. 

Earlier, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) State secretary V.K. Sanoj said “the fate of Martin Niemöller” awaited Bishop Pamplany. He said the German protestant pastor and self-declared anti-semite backed Adolf Hitler, only to be jailed by the Nazi leader after the priest served the fascist regime’s purpose.

Bishop Pamplany’s expression of gratitude to the Centre had come in for sharp reactions on social media platforms, with the netizens pooh-poohing the gesture using memes and satirical remarks.

Last week, CPI(M) leader and former Minister A.K. Balan had accused Bishop Pamplany of pursuing a transactional mode of politics by promising the BJP a parliamentary toehold in Kerala if the Centre raised the floor price of rubber to ₹300 per kg in the run-up to the 2024 General Elections. 

Thalassery Archdiocese pushes back

Meanwhile, the Thalassery Archdiocese has pushed back firmly. In a statement, the bishopric termed Mr. Govindan’s words “second-rate.”

It said Bishop Pamplany did not require “AKG Centre’s writ” to expound the Church’s position. The Church had ignored the DYFI’s attempt to disparage the prelate. However, attacks against the Bishop had escalated, it pointed out.

The Archdiocese said the Bishop had thanked parties across the political spectrum, including the Central government, for their respective interventions to “ensure justice” for the nuns.

“Opportunism has become a byword for Mr. Govindan’s political vacillations.  His condemnable statements have exposed the party secretary’s fascist nature. Mr. Govindan’s distortion of the Bishop’s words is aimed at putting the Chief Minister and CPI(M) on the defensive”, the bishopric stated.