Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that his government’s policy is to create conditions for political parties to function independently.
The government did not approve of any action intended to undermine the functioning of political parties, Mr. Vijayan said while replying to a submission moved by Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala in the Assembly on Monday regarding the government action against Superintendent of Police Chaithra Teresa John who had conducted a raid inside the CPI(M) district committee office in the capital on January 24.
“In a democracy, it is the responsibility of the police to protect such institutions,” the Chief Minister said. Giving the details of the case that led to the raids in the CPI(M) district committee office, Mr. Vijayan said the officer in charge of the Medical College police station refused to entertain those who came to see the people taken into custody.
Cases registered
Once permission was denied, they gathered in front of the station and raised slogans. In the violent incidents that followed, the station suffered damage to the tune of ₹2,000.
Cases were registered under IPC 143, 147, 149, 353, 383 and 3 of PDPP Act.
Normally, Mr. Vijayan said, offices of political parties were not raided by the police. A basic principle of democracy was to allow political parties to function independently. “Political leaders in the State have generally cooperated with police investigation,” he said. The Chief Minister said the tendency to belittle those in public life by vested interests cannot be entertained. Democracy can progress only by correcting such tendencies.
On the complaint given by CPI(M) district secretary Anavoor Nagappan against the raids led by Ms. John, who was holding the charge of the DCP (Law and Order), Mr. Vijayan said it was the responsibility of the government to consider the complaints given by leaders of political parties.
That was why the State Police Chief was asked to inquire into it.
