Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president P.S. Sreedharan Pillai has accused the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] of disrespecting public sentiments in the Sabarimala issue and said the efforts being made to suppress Ayappa devotees’ belief would lead to the CPI(M)’s doom in the country.
He was addressing a demonstration organised by the BJP near the State Police Headquarters on Tuesday before commencing a day’s fast in protest against the alleged police excesses on Ayyappa devotees.
Mr. Pillai said the CPI(M) had failed in its efforts to counter the agitations by the Sangh Parivar and Hindu organisations against the entry of women to Sabarimala.
Claiming that support for the CPI(M) was on the wane, Mr. Pillai said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seemed to become the “liquidator” of the party by choosing to go against public aspirations.
On contempt plea
Referring to the contempt of court petitions filed against BJP president Amit Shah and party leaders, Mr. Pillai said the party sought to neither challenge the judiciary nor defame the judges.
“However, we are well within our rights to criticise the judgment and voice our concerns. The public will is the nerve of democracy and the aspirations of the public cannot be suppressed through court verdicts or by use of force,” he said.
The demonstration had an unexpected participant. Veteran CPI(M) leader and former LDF convener M.M. Lawrence’s grandson Milan Immanuel Joseph was among those who pledged support for the agitation.
O. Rajagopal, MLA, BJP district president S. Suresh, former party State president K. Raman Pillai, and Mahila Morcha State president V.T. Rama were among those who spoke. The BJP organised similar demonstrations in front of district police headquarters across the State on the day.
