THRISSUR: CPM will hold nationwide protests from October 9 against the BJP and RSS’ efforts to propagate falsehoods against the party in Kerala. The protests will be held in all state capitals. Kerala will be excluded.CPM politburo member Prakash Karat told reporters in Thrissur on Thursday the BJP and RSS were spreading lies about CPM over the political violence in the state and the party having a pro-Jihadist stance. He also condemned the protest and march the BJP organised to AKG Bhavan in New Delhi (CPM headquarters).
“The protest organised on the call of BJP national president Amit Shah is undemocratic and unheard of. They attacked the CPM office twice in the past. The latest march can only be seen as an effort to instigate violence. Even the police is providing them protection. We are taking the matter seriously,” Karat said.
He also ridiculed BJP’s ‘Janaraksha Yatra’ against political killings in Kerala saying it was the ‘height of absurdity’.“In BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Dalits are beaten or murdered for participating in the Garba dance or for having moustaches,” Karat said.
On fuel price rise, Karat said the Centre should substantially reduce Excise Duty on petrol and diesel while the state government can follow suit by reducing VAT. “The recent `2 deduction on Excise Duty is like a drop in the ocean as Excise Duty was hiked on 11 occasions after the NDA Government assumed power,” he said.Karat also expressed shock over the Kerala High Court’s order to annul the wedding of Akhila aka Hadiya, saying she had the right to decide on who to marry.
“The investigation agencies can act against the couple only if they indulge in anti-national activities,” Karat said. He said the Supreme Court order for an NIA probe into the case had complicated it further. “The party stands with her decision,” he said.He said comments on the possibility of a unified opposition against BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls can be made only after the CPM Central Committee in January takes a decision on it.