BJP State president P.S. Sreedharan Pillai has accused the Pinarayi Vijayan government of misusing Sections 307 and 308 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to suppress dissent.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Mr. Pillai said hundreds of BJP workers who took part in the Sabarimala agitation had been charged under the two sections which deal with non-bailable offences such as attempt to murder. Mr. Vijayan was attempting to control dissent and wreak vengeance on opponents by misusing laws, he said.
Metropolitan of Thrissur diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Yuhanon Mar Meletios was the latest victim of misuse, Mr. Pillai alleged. The metropolitan had been charged with non-bailable sections in connection with the Orthodox-Jacobite clashes at St. Mary's Church, Mannamangalam, he said. ‘‘Who did the bishop try to kill?’’ Mr. Pillai asked.
Friday's Supreme Court order on the Sabarimala issue had, in fact, come as a slap in the face of the LDF government, Mr. Pillai said. While the court ordered protection to Bindu Ammini and Kanakadurga, it declined to entertain other demands such as contempt of court action against the Sabarimala Tantri for conducting purification rites, he said. ''This is a sign that truth will prevail,'' he said.
The Ayyappa Bhaktha Sangamam scheduled to be held in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday would be a landmark in the progress of the Sabarimala agitation, Mr. Pillai said.
The future of BJP agitation would be decided by the party leadership, he said, replying to a question. ''The BJP will continue to cooperate with the Sabarimala Karma Samithi and the devotees,'' he said.
