Thiruvananthapuram: Taking a dig at BJP and the RSS, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Friday asked why they had not called for a hartal after one more woman offered prayers at Sabarimala.
He alleged that the Sangh Parivar forces were trying to destroy the peace and unity in the state to project a picture of Kerala boiling with issues. “They called for a hartal and unleashed violence when two women entered the shrine. Now one more woman has gone there. Why have they not called for a hartal?,” Vijayan asked adding that more women may enter the shrine and sought to know whether these organisations would call for a hartal every time this occurred.
Vijayan, while speaking after inaugurating a party office near here, also said that some (Sangh Parivar) leaders had claimed that they would commit suicide if a woman enters the shrine. “We don’t want anyone to commit suicide. They are making fun of themselves,” Chief Minister said.
Vijayan said that people who want to protect the progressive values in the state are in the majority. “The state thinks that way. The state wants to move forward in the way of development. Any efforts to drag it back cannot be allowed,” he said.
Vijayan also said that people must “isolate” all those forces which try to disrupt the state’s peace and unity. “The Sangh Parivar has been attacking CPI offices across the state. Be it the CPI, the CPI(M) or the LDF, they all exist to protect secularism and progressive mentality of the state. They are trying to destroy these values. They are trying to destroy those protecters,” Vijayan said.
Kerala was not going to ‘tremble’ at such threats, especially when the Left organisations have already dealt with them (threats) in the past, the Chief Minister said. “We faced the worst floods in 100 years. We are trying to re-build our state. A rejuvenated Kerala…a new Kerala.We need that unity which we showcased during floods,” he said.
They (Sangh Parivar) are trying to destroy that. Do not fall for their tricks,” he said. Kerala has been on the boil since Wednesday afternoon after two women of menstrual age entered the hill-top shrine.
Wide-spread violence marred the state in the hartal called by right-wing groups on Thursday So far 1,718 people have been arrested in connection with the violence in the last two days and 1,108 cases registered till this evening.
As many as 1,009 people have been taken into preventive custody. In the violence, 174 people, including 132 police personnel and 10 mediapersons were injured.