Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Time to show CPI(M) the door, says Shah in Kerala’s Janraksha Yatra

- Ramesh Babu rbabu@hindustant­imes.com

THIRUVANAN­THAPURAM: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Tuesday came down heavily on the ruling CPI(M)-led government saying the party will be thrown out soon if it continues to practise “the politics of hatred and intoleranc­e.”

Addressing the valedictor­y session of the two-week long statewide Janraksha Yatra flagged off by him in north Kerala’s Kannur on October 3, Shah asked chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan if the people of the state had given him the mandate to annihilate political opponents or govern.

“I would like to ask him whether this mandate is meant to liquidate political opponents. It is sad that the most political murders took place in his district Kannur. He has to own responsibi­lity,” Shah said adding in democracy, there was no place for violence.

“Violence is the trademark of the Communists and political clashes and murders multiplied when it came to power in Kerala. When it was in power from 1996-2001 30 RSS and BJP activists were killed, from 2006-2011, 28 and in the last one and a half years, 13 of our workers were killed,” he said.

He also accused the ruling front of a discreet understand­ing with the Congress. “There is a secret deal between the two that is why the CM is not taking any action against the former CM Oommen Chandy who was indicted by a judicial commission appointed by him,” he said.

BJP WONT WIN: CPI(M)

Meanwhile, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury accused the RSS-BJP of triggering violence in Kerala.

“We warn the BJP that if they continue to create violence in Kerala they will not see even one MLA elected from the state,” he said, addressing party workers in front of the BJP office.

The Left party’s march was in protest against alleged acts of violence by the RSS-BJP in Kerala.

 ?? VIVEK NAIR/HT ?? BJP chief Amit Shah takes part in the Janraksha Yatra in Thiruvanan­thapuram on Tuesday.
VIVEK NAIR/HT BJP chief Amit Shah takes part in the Janraksha Yatra in Thiruvanan­thapuram on Tuesday.

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