Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a strongly worded statement on Friday, lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his statements that BJP workers are unsafe in Kerala. “Such statements are not befitting a man who his holding an important position like the Prime Minister of a country,” said Pinarayi.
Modi, during his election campaign in Varanasi, said that a BJP worker in Kerala leaves his home unsure that he will return safely that day. “When a BJP worker in Kerala or West Bengal leaves his home, he tells his mother that if he doesn’t return home that night, then ask his brother to continue working for the party tomorrow,” Modi had said.
Reacting to this, Pinarayi Vijayan asked on what basis the PM is saying that BJP workers are not able to leave their homes. “Insulting one of the most peaceful states in the country with the best law and order system should be questioned.”
“The Crime Records Bureau of the Central Government itself shows that Kerala is the state with the least number of crimes and violence,” stated Pinarayi, who went on to add that it is surprising that the Prime Minister did not bother to check the facts before making such statements.
Pinarayi said that the Sangh Parivar activists who unleash violence may be protected and safeguarded in BJP ruled states. “But that consideration will not be given in Kerala. There is no separate law for Sangh Parivar in Kerala,” clarified the Kerala CM. He said whoever is unleashing violence will be brought in front of the law.
“RSS has been attempting to use communal tactics to destroy the peaceful environment in the state. The people of Kerala will stand together and resist such attempts,” said Pinarayi.
Attacking the RSS, Pinarayi said that it is a group which has no qualms in spreading fake news and that they have a separate machinery only to spread such news.
Modi, who is contesting from the Varanasi constituency for the Lok Sabha elections, during his campaign said that BJP workers in Kerala and West Bengal are working under the threat of guns and bombs.
This is not the first time that the Kerala CM is hitting out at Modi for his statements, in the recent past.
Modi during his visit to Kerala, earlier this month, had said that the Kerala government is charging false cases against people for uttering the name of god. Responding to this, Pinarayi had said, “Only those who unleashed violence in the name of religion were booked. Such criminals may get away in BJP-ruled states, but in Kerala, they will face strict action.”