Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley slammed the ruling CPI (M) in Kerala on Sunday for the political violence in the state, accusing it of “using” its cadres to “eliminate” rival party workers.
At a condolence meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, after visiting the family members of slain RSS worker Rajesh Edavakode, Jaitley said the RSS and the BJP could not be suppressed through violence. He also questioned the “complete silence” on the “continuing saga of violence in Kerala” of those who otherwise speak against any similar incidents in other parts of the country.
Jaitley Lashes out at State Government
He also charged that the political opponents of the ruling dispensation were being killed in a most “brutal and barbaric” manner in the state and added that it was the state government’s responsibility to ensure that those indulging in violence were brought to book.
“Every time the LDF comes to power, the incidents of violence increase. The political opponents are killed in a most brutal and barbaric manner,” he told reporters.
The union minister blamed the ruling party there for the recent upsurge in violence in the state which saw the brutal killing of Rajesh by a gang on 29 July and attack on houses of several BJP and RSS workers.
Jaitley Visits Home of Slain RSS Worker in Kerala
On Sunday, Jaitley drove straight from the airport to the home of the deceased, E Rajesh, where he met his wife, two children and other family members. Jaitley asked:
We are here to mourn the killing of Rajesh, whose sacrifice will remain with with us and inspire every karyakarta. We now owe a duty to his family to look after them.
On a day's visit to Kerala, Jaitley was received at the airport by leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state. Jaitley questioned:
The same story repeats itself. What is the political environment intended to be created in the state?
CPI(M)’s Sit-in Protest
Also on Sunday, the CPI (M) organised a sit-in protest in front of the Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor P Sathasivam, asking Jaitley to also visit the families of its cadres who have been allegedly killed by BJP and RSS workers.
Anavoor Nagappan, the Thiruvananthapuram District Secretary of the CPI-M, told the media that those on protest included 21 family members of their activists killed in the state from 1980. He said:
Jaitley should not restrict his visit to just the RSS worker’s home. All these people who are sitting here have lost their near and dear ones to BJP and RSS workers.
Those who joined the protest included state CPI-M Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and LDF Convenor Vaikom Viswam.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called a meeting of leaders of political parties in Kerala to discuss ways to maintain peace.
Speaking to the family members of the deceased, Jaitley said:
This kind of violence will neither suppress ideology in Kerala nor it will be able to scare our workers. It will only increase their determination to work harder against those who are perpetuating this operation.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS.)
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