Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (AM)
Mangaluru, Feb 22: In more opposition to the Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's visit to the city on February 25, the district BJP on Wednesday February 22 said that Vijayan's participation in the CPI(M) harmony rally will lead to poltical unrest in the district.
Addressing a press meet at the party office, BJP district president Sanjeeva Mathandoor said, "This district has always witnessed political harmony. Elections have been fought by rivals, but the rivalry has been healthy. Kerala is one state which has witnessed many political murders. Chief minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan's CPI(M) has been brutally killing members of BJP and Sangh Parivar. CPI-M has not only been targeting BJP and its members, but also members of Congress, SDPI and other political parties.
"Even Congressman Shashi Tharoor has shared the same view about the political situation in Kerala. Places like Kannur and Thrissur have borne the brunt of political conflict in Kerala. The person who has had criminal cases on him since 1969 is now the chief minsiter of Kerala. He is responsible for the current sitiuation existing there," he alleged.
"Despite the kind of background he has, Vijayan is coming to our district to attend a programme of communal harmony. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Hindu Jagrane Vedike (HJV) along with other organisations have called for a bandh on February 25 opposing the visit of the Kerala chief minister. BJP extends its full support to the hartal. We are holding a rally from Dr Ambedkar circle to Nehru Maidan on February 24 at 10 am as a sign of protest and to create awareness about what damage Vijayan's visit would do to the district. There will be a protest meeting after the rally culminates at Nehru Maidan. Members from eight constituencies and public will be attending the same," he added.
"BJP will not go for forceful bandh. It is people's choice. There will be a peaceful hartal. We have the right to protest. We do not need lessons of communal harmony from a man like Vijayan. The organisers of the communal harmony event will get poor beedi rollers to attend the programme just to show it was a success. BJP along with VHP, HJV and others will create awareness about the consequences of Vijayan's visit," he concluded.
Former MLA Yogish Bhat, former MLC Monappa Bhandary, Capt Brijesh Chowta, Ashok Rai and others were present.