The government will initiate stringent action against any bid to curb freedom of speech and expression, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.
Replying to a submission by Mullakara Retnakaran on the bid to manhandle poet Kureepuzha Sreekumar by Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers at Kottukkal in Kadakkal on Monday night, Mr. Vijayan said there was a rise in such attacks against freedom of speech of late and there were attempts to quell voices of dissent all over the country.
There were threats against litterateur M.T. Vasudevan Nair, filmmaker Kamal, and literary critic M.M. Basheer. But Kerala was remaining a safe zone amidst such incidents and that was due to the strength of the progressive and democratic forces.
Mr. Vijayan said Mr. Sreekumar’s vehicle was blocked and an attempt was made to attack him while he was returning after inaugurating the golden jubilee of the Kairali reading room and library by a group comprising 15 BJP/RSS workers led by panchayat member Deepu.
The police have registered a case and six persons were arrested too, he said.
Attack on church
Replying to a submission by Veena George on the attack against Church of God at Kumbanad, Mr. Vijayan said a group of BJP workers had removed the gate of the church on February 1 and tied the party flag on a pillar of the church. Eleven persons were arrested and a special team would be constituted to probe the case, he said.
