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The BJP will raise in Parliament the issue of political violence against its workers in Kerala, allegedly by the CPM and the Congress cadre, and also ask the Election Commission to ensure adequate protection in the run-up to the polls.
Union ministers Smriti Irani and Rajiv Pratap Rudy addressed a press conference here on Tuesday to allege that the attacks were the outcome of a “nexus” between the ruling Congress and the Left as they are worried by the “surge” in support for the BJP in the State.
“Violence is being used as a political tool to suppress our voice,” Irani said, alleging that Left workers were carrying out attacks while the Congress was strategically supporting it.
“Violence is used by the CPI(M) to scare away the BJP. We are here to reiterate our support to the workers of the BJP and to state that we are concerned about violence being used to suppress the voice of the Opposition parties. The violence is not limited to men; even a female student who confronted some Left activists was pushed so much that she tried to commit suicide. The adjustment politics between Left and Congress is resulting in a violent atmosphere to dissuade BJP workers,” the Union HRD Minister said.
‘Signs of victory’The BJP-led alliance in the State had created concern among the two bigger parties, said Rajiv Pratap Rudy, and “emerging signs of its great victory” have compelled them to target the party’s workers.
Rudy is the party’s co-incharge for the Kerala Assembly polls and the delegation to the Commission will be headed by Union Minister JP Nadda, who is in-charge of the State, he said. “[The] situation is very critical. We do not expect a free and fair election in Kerala,” Rudy said, adding that a party delegation will soon meet the Commission to press for strong measures to be taken in the State.
‘Instances of violence’In recent cases of violence, former Kerala BJP President V Muraleedharan was among 16 persons injured in an alleged attack by CPI(M) workers at Kattayikonam in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.
On March 8, RSS worker EK Biju was hacked to death, Rudy said, adding that hundreds of party workers have been killed in Kannur over the years.
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