CM: There was bid to create communal polarization

KANNUR: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday lashed out at BJP and said there were attempts to create communal polarization and hatred during this election campaign period. Addressing a meet-the-press programme organized by Kannur press club, Vijayan added that the quality and standard that the state had been maintaining in election campaigns went for a toss this time.


"There was a calculated attempt to sabotage secularism and

democracy

of our country. If we hurt the secular values for temporary gains it would lead to dangerous implications in the future," he said.

The comment by BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj that there would be no elections required after this

Lok Sabha

polls clearly points out that RSS has started planning to put an end to the democratic system here, the CM said.

"Some people from north India, who are the spokespersons of genocide and communal riots, were brought here to conduct road shows. This is an indication to what kind of dangerous situation the country would be led to," he said in an indirect reference to the roadshow organized by BJP president Amit Shah in Pathanamthitta. Vijayan added that there are efforts to threaten the media to create news and analysis in their favour.

"If we take stock of the Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, the main fight is between LDF and UDF, but BJP is trying to have its footholds here. In some places, UDF and BJP are helping each other. It was because of such a help that BJP managed to open account in Kerala assembly," he said.

The CM also accused Congress of not opposing the policies of the Centre. "Modi government is following the same economic policies of Manmohan Singh. Here in Kerala, instead of campaigning their political issues and manifesto, Congress and UDF are trying to defame the LDF government," he said. The need of the hour is to make sure that BJP does not return to power, he added.

Although he asserted that BJP would not come back to power, Vijayan said the nature of next government would be decided only after the election results are announced. "It is not necessary that the leader of the single largest partly should become the PM," he added.

Reads out Centre's directive: In response to the challenge made by BJP to show proof for Centre directing the state to impose prohibitory orders in Sabarimala, he said the Union home ministry had asked the state to take such measures to maintain the law and order situation. Reading some parts of the memo (11034/01/2018) from the internal security division of the home ministry, Vijayan said there was no need to tell lies, and the action was taken as per the memo.

"Though he speaks against the spirit of the Supreme Court order, the PM and the central government couldn't have done anything else. The same is the case of state government too," Vijayan said.