In response to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s back-to-back rallies against political violence in Kerala, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) took out their own march on Monday.
Senior Left leaders and supporters marched to the BJP headquarters on Monday, as they blamed the party for unleashing “saffron terror” in the southern State.
The march was led by CPI(M) general-secretary Sitaram Yechury, who was joined by former party general-secretary Prakash Karat and other politburo members.
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Accusing the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of spreading ‘politics of hate’ in Kerala, where his party heads the ruling-Left coalition, Mr. Yechury said the Left party was capable of giving a suitable answer if saffron outfits did not stop political violence.
The protest was a bid to counter the ongoing protest marches by the BJP against alleged violence by the Left over the past two days.
While BJP president Amit Shah led the march to CPI(M) headquarters here on Sunday, the party followed it up with another march on Monday, which was attended by Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and V.K. Singh.
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Blame game
Both sides have been blaming each other for killing their activists in Kerala.
“Our government there has made efforts for reconciliation. When we call the BJP, they say the RSS is responsible for the violence. When the RSS comes to the talking table, they say they are not a political party. The truth is they are not keen on finding a solution,” said Mr. Yechury.
He said the BJP and the RSS have a questionable record when it comes to speaking for democracy and against suppressing democratic rights as well as governance since they were given the mandate three years ago. From law and order to generating jobs, they do not have much to show for and thus are indulging in diversionary tactics, added Mr. Yechury.
Referring to Sunday’s incident, in which RSS workers allegedly threw bombs at the Left cadres in Kannur, Mr. Yechury said, “We will not keep quiet. We warn the BJP that if they do not stop violence then we will answer back. We will not bow down.”
Addressing the gathering, CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Shah over the violence.
She alleged that Mr. Shah was trying to instigate terror against Left cadres in Kerala, but the people of the State would not bow down in front of the RSS or the BJP.