Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (AM)

Mangaluru, Feb 20: Chief minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan should not be allowed to attend the public communal harmony rally to be held in the city on February 25, said Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) divisional working president M B Puranik.

Addressing mediapersons here on Monday, February 20, Puranik said, "The CM of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan should not be allowed to enter this district and attend the programme. It is not right to invite a person whose constituency Dharmadom witnessed 13 political murders from 1969. He belongs to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) which is well-known for eliminating rivals if they have conflicting political ideologies.

"People of Kannur district live in constant fear as the situation is getting worse over there. It is strongly condemnable that Vijayan who is ineffective as a CM of Kerala and cannot restore law and order in his own state is being allowed to participate and speak in public rallies. The intention of calling him to this programme is to only spread hatred and communal disharmony," Puranik alleged.

"Kerala is led by a dictator. Vijayan has cases registered against him. He is coming to this district only to disrupt peace. We do not mind anyone else coming to the progarmme and inaugurating it, but not Vijayan. VHP, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagarane Vedike oppose his coming and also call for a peaceful hartal on February 25. We have already submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner. We have spoken to superintendent of police and also to the police commissioner. Mnay organisations and associations are supporting us in this cause," he added.

VHP's Mangaluru district president Jagadish Shenava said, "Vijayan's coming to Dakshina Kannada will lead to communal unrest. There are only Hindu-Muslim issues right now, but Vijayan's visit will also lead to Communist-RSS, Communist-BJP or even Communist-Hindutva group issues. We have all the right to protest and will do so. There will be no bandh, but a peaceful hartal."

Answering a query from mediapersons as to why there was no protest when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the district when he was the CM of Gujarat as he too had cases registered against him, and also why there was no protest over the murder of RTI activist Vinayak Baliga, Sharan Pumpwell, divisional convener of Bajrang Dal Mangaluru division said, "We are only against Vijayan attending the communal harmony event. He is not the right person as his hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of innocent people. We have earlier condemned the muder of Vinayak Baliga. Our only agenda right now is that Vijayan should not attend the programme on February 25."

Replying to another query on why Vijayan's visit was being given a communal angle, Shenava said, "It is not about religion. Kerala has seen many political muders of people belonging to RSS and BJP. Anyone can come for the progaramme, but not Vijayan."

Amit Kumar, district convenor, Hindu Jagarane Vedike and Bhujang Kulal, district convener, Bajrang Dal were present.