Jaitley hits out at Kerala govt over RSS man’s killing
Minister says Left govt should let the Oppn function freely
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hitting out at the CPI(M)-led state government in Kerala, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Sunday that the ruling party needs to take immediate steps to end the politics of annihilation and allow opponents to function in a free and fair manner.
Addressing media after visiting the house of RSS activist E Rajesh, who was hacked to death allegedly by CPI(M) workers, Jaitley said the way political opponents were being executed would shame even terrorists.
“I am deeply concerned about the kind of environment prevailing in the state. Political opponents are done away with in a brutal manner,” said the Union finance minister.
Union finance and defence minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday asked the CPI(M)-led Kerala government to take immediate steps to end ‘the politics of annihilation’ and allow the opposition to function freely.
Addressing journalists after visiting the house of RSS leader E Rajesh, who was hacked to death allegedly by CPI(M) workers last week, he said the way political opponents were executed in the state would put even terrorists to shame.
“I am deeply concerned about the kind of environment prevailing in the state. Political opponents are done away with in a brutal manner. The kind of wounds inflicted on victim Rajesh will embarrass even terrorists,” Jaitley said.
The RSS has demanded the imposition of President’s rule in the state in the wake of growing political clashes.
Jaitley said if similar violence had occurred in an NDA-ruled state, awards would have been returned, parliament disrupted and vigorous nation-wide campaigns launched. “There can’t be double standard on incidents of this magnitude,” he said.
The senior BJP leader said that every time the Left came to power, political violence witnessed a rise.
“Political will and determination by the state government needed to discipline its own cad- res rather than let them loose on political rivals,” he said adding the situation won’t improve if the police were not given a free hand to conduct probe into such incidents
Meanwhile the ruling CPI(M) paraded family members of 21 workers who were allegedly killed in RSS attacks. “If the minister is serious to end violence he should also visit the family members of those who lost lives and or injured in the RSS attack,” CPI (M) district secretary A Nagappan said. Jaitley said later that he has no problem in meeting them.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has claimed vested interests were trying to destabilise an elected government.
Nobody can browbeat us. People will realise follies of those who want to portray the state in bad light,” he said.
The relation between the state and centre vitiated after the murder of the RSS activist in the state capital last week. The issue figured prominently in both Houses of parliament in past two days with BJP legislators dubbing the state as a “god forsaken country” due to the ‘worsening’ law and order situation.
Political will and determination by the state government (in Kerala) needed to discipline its own cadres rather than let them loose on political rivals. ARUN JAITLEY, Union finance and defence minister