CPI(M) accuses BJP of doublespeak on Kerala political violence

The CPI(M) today accused the BJP of doublespeak over the political violence in Kerala, saying on one hand a Union minister was urging to stop the violence and on the other, his colleague was questioning the "sincerity" of the peace initiative.

It alleged that "game plan" of the saffron combine was clear and it was not keen to see peace being restored in the southern state.

The Left party said in a statement that Union home minister Rajnath Singh had urged Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take measures to stop the clashes between workers of the parties.

It said Vijayan had convened a meeting of the state leaders of the Left party and the BJP-RSS on July 31 to figure out ways to ensure peace there. More meetings were held in the three districts which reported violence and "provided framework" to see that conflicts are avoided.
 

One more all-party meeting is also scheduled on August 6, it added.

It is at such a juncture, the Politburo alleged, the BJP's central leadership and a Union minister have raised "baseless and partisan" allegations against the CPI(M).

It alleged that BJP general secretary Bhupendra Yadav and Union minister Smriti Irani questioned the sincerity of the initiative by the Kerala chief minister which yielded results.

"So, while the home minister adopts one position, another Union minister and the BJP leadership take a contrary stand. This clearly shows that the BJP-RSS are not keen to see that peace is restored and there are no political clashes," it claimed.

It accused the BJP and the RSS of carrying out attacks on the CPI(M) from the day the results of Kerala Assembly polls were out in May 2016.

The CPI(M) alleged that 13 of its workers and others have been killed by the RSS and the BJP men since then, while 200 of the Left party's workers and sympathisers have been injured.

In addition, 165 houses and 51 party offices have also been "attacked, set on fire or vandalised", it claimed.

"The game plan is clear. Resort to provocative actions and uncalled for physical assaults against the CPI(M) workers and raise the cry that the CPI(M) is resorting to violence and blame the Kerala government for not stopping such attacks," the Politburo alleged.