Union Minister for Telecommunications Ravi Shankar Prasad has warned the CPI(M) against denying freedom for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other Opposition parties to function freely in Kannur.
Inaugurating a public gathering organised by the BJP at the Martyrs’ Square in protest against the violence in Kannur here on Thursday, Mr. Prasad said that if Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decides to control his party men, democracy would be protected in the State.
‘CPI(M) targeting women’
People had voted for the CPI(M) to provide a peaceful life. But the party was targeting women and children in the name of the electoral win.
In addition to the Centre, the BJP was ruling nine States on its own and six with the support of allies. It has not denied functional freedom to the CPI(M) in any of these States, he said.
Mr. Vijayan should understand this reality. The nation was seriously watching the attack on BJP workers in the State and that was the reason why he came here for the programme.
BJP State president Kummanam Rajasekharan presided. A number of families, including a seven-year-old boy, E.T. Karthik, who was allegedly attacked by the CPI(M) in Pinarayi also attended the programme.
Mr. Prasad consoled the party workers who were injured in the incidents.
Mr. Rajasekharan, in his presidential address, flayed Mr. Vijayan for his observations against the National Women’s Commission. The commission visited the violence-hit areas in Kannur in broad daylight and anyone, including CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, could have called on the commission and given their complaints.
‘Allegations baseless’
Mr. Vijayan’s allegation that the commission did not receive complaints from the CPI(M) workers was baseless. Pinarayi area secretary Sasidharan and others had given statements to the commission at Thalassery.
The party would go to any extend to resume peace in Kannur, he said.
