Kozhikode: The marriage of DYFI leader Shejin with Christian woman Joisna Mary Joseph at Kodenchery in the Thiruvambady Assembly constituency has snowballed into a major controversy with the local CPM unit and its youth wing DYFI taking a conflicting stand on the issue.
Amidst rumours that the party would take action against Shejin, the CPM is holding a public meeting at Kodenchery on Wednesday at 5 pm to explain the party's position on the matter.
The marriage took place on Saturday. Shejin is a member of the CPM Kannoth local committee and the regional secretary of the DYFI.
Joisna's relatives complained that she was abducted and kept in illegal custody by Shejin. They took out a protest march to the nearest police station alleging that it was a case of "love jihad".
Meanwhile, Joisna, who appeared before the Thamarassery Court, was allowed to go along with Shejin.
CPM-DYFI war of words
CPM district secretariat member and former MLA George M Mathew accused Shejin of acting in a manner, disturbing communal amity and hurting the sentiments of a particular community.
He said that the controversy would adversely affect the CPM in the constituency.
Shejin should have gone for such a marriage only after informing the party. Action will be taken against him after discussing the matter with the party leadership, the former MLA said.
But resentment is brewing among a section of party workers and sympathisers over the statement of the former MLA.
They felt that his statement was retrograde and it went against the secular and progressive values cherished by the party.
The DYFI in a Facebook post said that the marriage between the two was a model which could be worth emulating for youths at a time when religious extremism was gripping every sphere of life.
While dismissing the "love jihad" allegations as fictitious, the DYFI said that the organisation would encourage such secular marriages.
