Kerala CM should ensure political violence ends: BJP

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP on Thursday took out three protest rallies here, alleging that workers of rival parties were "getting killed" under the LDF rule in Kerala and urged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take steps to end the bloodshed.

A day after the Chief Minister expressed readiness to call an all-party meeting to end violence in Kannur, BJP state chief Kummanam Rajasekharan said his party will cooperate as it was its responsibility to do so.

BJP has alleged that ever since the CPI(M)-led LDF came to power four months ago, attacks against rivals, especially BJP and RSS, have escalated in various parts, including Kannur.

The party today organised three separate rallies, including one organised by the Mahila morcha, which culminated in front of the Secretariat, Assembly and Police commissioner's office.

Addressing the workers, Rajasekharan said the Chief Minister should ensure that the politics of violence ends. "The Chief Minister has the responsibility to ensure peace and if he does not do so, the Governor should intervene," he said.

Rajasekharan alleged that under the LDF rule, those who are not from CPI(M) were getting killed and said the CM should treat all people equally.

Those who had lost their lives and property in the attacks should be compensated, irrespective of party affiliations, he said.

V Muraleedharan, former state BJP chief, said not only political opponents of CPI(M), but media personnel too were being targeted.

"Even representatives of the people are being attacked. Vijayan has turned into a CM without a conscience," he alleged.

Former Union minister, O Rajagopal, who inaugurated the Mahila march, alleged that women, children and Dalits are being attacked in the state.

"Police are ineffective. They are only implementing the CPI(M)'s agenda," he alleged.