Address political violence

The recent murder of an RSS worker in Kerala, allegedly by cadres of the CPM, has once again brought attention to political violence, which over the last five decades appears to have become a routine occurrence in Kerala and West Bengal. Most parties are involved, perhaps some more than others.  It is just as well that Union home minister Rajnath Singh has stepped into the frame and urged Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take steps that would end the problem since law and order is a state subject.  It is to be hoped that Mr Singh would be similarly proactive in respect of cow vigilantism across BJP-ruled states, which has led to dozens of murders in the past two years, in respect of which the BJP and its government at the highest levels at the Centre have taken the lame plea that law and order is a state subject.

What the Kerala CM and his counterpart in Kolkata need to do is to issue strict instructions to the police that all violence must be treated as criminal action, setting aside the fear of party labels since cadres of ruling parties are also frequently involved. CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury has offered himself for a dialogue with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in the context of Kerala. This is to be welcomed. Although the RSS claims to be a “cultural” outfit, its cadres are engaged in full-time politics. Mr Bhagwat is their leader. The RSS chief should welcome the opportunity for a discussion with the Marxist leader.