Kozhikode: Being a hard core fan of Pinarayi Vijayan, an 18-year old Jishnu Pranoy had shown Vijayan’s picture as ‘Vishu Kani’ to his parents last Vishu. That parent, relatives and people of Kallunira in Valayam are still knocking on the door of justice after three months of Jishnu’s death. Their pain is severe as the state is ruled by none other than Jishnu’s hero, Pinarayi Vijayan.
Valayam is undoubtedly a CPM bastion and Jishnu belongs to party family. Local CPM is in a fix as it is stuck between government and cadres.
CPM Nadapuram area secretary T.P. Chathu is convener of the Justice for Jishnu Action Committee and says that he was unaware of the family’s protest in front of DGP office. “We were in the dark about the protest. Earlier, the protest in front of Nehru College in Pampady was organised with the support and knowledge of party and the action committee,” Chathu said.
A Facebook post by Jishnu Pranoy praising Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan immediately after the LDF stormed into power in 2016 election.
Chathu parrots the CPM stand that the state was doing all it could. “The first Cabinet meeting after Jishnu’s death had initiated a probe and announced compensation for the family. Appointment of special public prosecutor was as per family's demand,” he expla-ined. However, this has not satisfied the local people. “Without arresting the accused, what is the point? Every progress in the case came only after fierce protests. That speaks volumes about the apathy,” fumes a local resident.
Chief Minister not visiting relatives was another emotional issue. CPM defends it saying that eight ministers and 14 MLAs visited the house.
“Later, Jishnu’s family had said that CM should visit them after the arrest of the accused,” pointed Mr Chathu. Locals suspect foul play in the last minute cancellation of Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan's visit to the house when he attended a meet in Valayam. CPM supporters are simmering inside, but unable to register it in public. After Wednesday's incident, the issue has completely gone out of hand and CPM is exploring ways to explain it.
