THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A BJP delegation led by senior leader and MLA O Rajagopal submitted a petition to Governor P Sathasivam on Saturday, demanding the Centre’s intervention to end the continuing violence in Kannur. Rajagopal met the Governor along with district president S Suresh and state secretary V V Rajesh on Saturday. Speaking to mediapersons after meeting the Governor, Rajagopal said normalcy can be restored in Kannur only by imposing the AFSPA. “Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has completely failed in maintaining law and order in Kannur. The CPM goons are not heeding his words. It is high time the Central forces are deployed in Kannur to restore peace,” he said.
Kummanam releases video, blasts CPM
BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan on Saturday released a video alleging the CPM workers celebrated the murder of the RSS leader. He tweeted the video with a message- “Brutality, beastiality at its worst- Kannur Communists celebrate murder of RSS Karyakartha Biju, whom they beheaded.” In the 1.38-minute video, people are seen beating drums and celebrating, but could not hear saying anything.
CPM denies celebrating murder
The CPM has denied allegations raised by the BJP that its workers celebrated the murder of RSS leader Choorakadu Biju. The party said the video of the celebrations has nothing to do with the CPM. BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan should clarify when and where the video was recorded, said CPM district secretary P Jayarajan. He said the BJP was trying to create an anti-CPM wave in the country by spreading falsehood.
Hartal near- total
The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the BJP in Kannur district and Mahe on Saturday in protest against the murder was near total. Shops, markets and business establishments remained closed. Private buses kept off the road while the KSRTC conducted a few services. According to the police, no major untoward incident has been reported in the district.