Kerala: BJP neither worried nor scared' of LDF

New Delhi: Even as the RSS extended an invitation to the communists for an ‘ideological dialogue’ to end the violence between the Left and saffron cadres in Kerala, BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday declared that the BJP cadre is ‘neither worried nor scared’ of the growing incidents of violence against them ever since the CPI(M) led LDF government came to power in the state. Shah, who would be camping in Kerala soon to meet the party cadre, also said that his party cadre would react to the violence in a peaceful way to strengthen the party. Shah made these remarks at the BJP national executive meeting in Bhubaneswar, which began on Saturday.

In New Delhi, senior RSS leader Krishna Gopal allleged that ever since the Left led government came to power in Kerala, there is an increase in political violence against the sangh parivar cadre and supporters. Extending an invitation to the communists for an ‘ideological dialogue’ over the issue, he also reiterated the RSS’ demand of a visit by an all- party delegation to the state to look into the issue of the decades-old violence between the Left and saffron cadres.

Describing the situation in Kerala as ‘very serious’, Gopal alleged that since the CPI(M)-led government has come to power in the state, 19 people, including 11 RSS workers, have been killed. “I call upon the communists to give up violence and come forward for an ideological dialogue,” said RSS joint general secretary. The RSS leader denied that they had any involvement in violence in the state.

Gopal denied RSS’ involvement in violence in Kerala saying that the organisation believed in "Constitutional" ways and was focusing instead on raising awareness in the country on the "bloodshed" perpetrated by the communists in the state. "We do not believe in violence or counter-violence. We have been trying to tell the people about what is going on in Kerala and how the communists are eliminating anyone who has a different ideology," he said.