Thiruvananthapuram: Let's go 1-on-1, CM dares BJP

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday dared Sangh Parivar outfits and BJP for one-on-one political fight on Sabarimala issue.

At a press conference here, the Chief Minister said if theirs was a political agitation then the BJP-Sangh Parivar outfits should not make devotees scapegoat and use them as cover.  If they want to fight politically, then shift the venue to Secretariat or any other place but not Sabarimala.

The Sangh Parivar’s objective is to capture Sabarimala and the recent incidents clearly indicated that RSS-BJP leadership was orchestrating violence in the name of devotees.  Their activities had nothing to do with belief or religious customs.

Pinarayi reiterated that a government which swore by Constitution had no other option but to implement the Supreme Court verdict.

 Initially the government had not imposed any restrictions in Nilakkal, Pamba or Sannidhanam. BJP and other organisations were allowed to hold dharna and agitations as long as they remained peaceful. But police had to intervene when agitators assaulted, threatened and intimidated devotees and media persons.

“There was not even a single instance of journalist or devotees being beaten up. It was not because of Sangh Parivar’s magnanimity but due to strict enforcement of law,” he added.

The Chief Minister accused the BJP leaders of inciting communal passions. “One of the BJP leaders was seen throwing the irumudi kettu on the floor. He tore his shirt and attributed it to police excesses,” he said.

He said during the hartals called by Sangh Parivar outfits recently there were attempts to target shops of a particular community to trigger communal violence.  “From posting fake pics of a devotee being kicked by policeman to appeals outside the state not to give donations to Sabarimala temple, they can go to any extent,” he said.

Pinarayi attacked opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala of changing his stand frequently. Initially he welcomed the SC verdict. But now he is speaking the language of RSS. He hoped the secular sections within the Congress will realise this and distance from his position.

The Chief Minister said the BJP-led government was getting increasingly isolated because of its wrong policies. Sangh Parivar is using religion and customs to to divert the attention of people and also to break the unity of people against wrong policies of the Centre.