Blaming "political goondas" of the CPI(M) for the murder of a 25-year-old BJP worker in Kerala on Wednesday, the saffron outfit demanded a CBI probe into the killing, saying it has no faith in the state police and the Left government.
A 25-year-old BJP worker was hacked on Wednesday to death allegedly by CPI(M) activists in the hometown of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the politically sensitive Kannur district, less than 48 hours after the murder of a Marxist member. The murder of the worker identified as Remith at Pinarayi sparked a slugfest between the CPI(M), which is heading the ruling LDF, and the BJP.
Protesting against the murder, the BJP has called for a state-wide 12-hour strike from 6 am on Thursday. Remith, who suffered severe injuries on his head and neck in the attack that happened at 10.30am, died on the way to hospital, police said. He was standing near a petrol pump when he was attacked, sending shock waves in the state.
"It looks like a political murder. The situation is now under control. Patrolling is on and efforts are on to keep things calm," IGP(Northern Range) Dinendra Kashyap told PTI.
Condemning the killing, BJP National President Amit Shah tweeted:
Vijayan, for his part, lashed out at RSS for the growing violence in the state which he alleged was with the support of BJP government at the Centre.
Speaking at a function in Alapuzha, Vijayan hit out at RSS and BJP over the attack on a Marxist worker in Kannur two days ago and accused RSS of spreading violence in the state.
"The attacks by RSS activists are increasing in the state. They are now showing more tendency of violence with the support of BJP government at the Centre. They are committing murders and spreading lies and misunderstanding among people." CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the violence in Kerala has been started by the RSS-BJP combine itself and blaming the state's ruling party for the same is "total fabrication" of facts.
Blaming "political goondas" of the CPI(M) for the murder, BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao demanded a CBI probe, saying it has no faith in the state police and the Left government. The incident comes within two days of murder of a CPI(M) activist and toddy shop worker Mohanan (40) by a six-member gang at Pathiriyad in Kannur district, with CPI(M) pointing fingers at RSS for the attack.
BJP leader and former Union Minister O Rajagopal said Chief Minister Vijayan should intervene and take steps to tackle the situation in Kannur as he has the moral responsibility as the Chief Minister.
Congress blamed both CPI(M) and BJP for the growing violence in Kannur.
KPCC President V M Sudheeran said the CPI(M) and BJP should stop the "blood bath" in the district. Political murders prove that the law and order situation in the state had worsened and the Chief Minister should give up the Home Portfolio, he said.
Both CPI(M) and BJP were manufacturing country bombs and collecting arms and ammunition. Since the last four months, when the LDF came to power, there has been seven political murders, and in the last 48 hours 2 killings, he said.
Meanwhile, Kerala University and Calicut University have postponed all examinations scheduled for Thursday. In view of the strike, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in the state capital has decided to operate its employee pick-up and drop vehicles in group with police protection.
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