BJP president Amit Shah to take padayatra through Kerala CM Pinarayi's hometown on October 5

The BJP national president will participate in the march as a mark of protest against the ruling CPI-M's "political violence" and also against rising terrorism, a BJP official said here on Saturday.
BJP chief Amit Shah (File | PTI)
BJP chief Amit Shah (File | PTI)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP national president Amit Shah will participate in a 'padayatra' in Kerala, which will see him walk past the home of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the latter's hometown in Kannur district on October 5, as a mark of protest against the ruling CPI-M's "political violence" and also against rising terrorism, a BJP official said here on Saturday.

V. Muraleedharan, coordinator of the state-wide 'yatra' called by state BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan, said the padayatra was conceived in August, after the killing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh office bearer E. Rajesh on July 29 here. The yatra will also see a campaign against the recent trend of jihadi terrorism promoted by Islamic fundamentalists, he told the media.

"The state-wide yathra would be flagged off by Shah from Payyanur in Kannur district on October 3. He will walk for three days, and on October 5, he will walk past the home of Vijayan at Pinarayi. That evening, he will address a public meeting at Tellichery. He will then return on the concluding day of the yatra on October 17 and participate in a public meeting to be held here," said Muraleedharan.

"The maximum attack on our cadres has taken place in Kannur district. The venue for flagging off the yathra is Payyanur, in memory of V. Ramakrishnan who became the first victim in 1969. In that case, Vijayan was among the accused. Apart from the fight against political violence of the CPI-M, this yatra is also to highlight the spurt in jihadi terrorism as we have seen that people from Kerala are also part of those who joined the Islamic State group," added Muraleedharan.

He said various Union Ministers and top level national party leaders will walk with the yatra at various locations, and include Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her cabinet colleagues Smriti Irani, Ananathakumar and the lone Keralite in the cabinet K.J. Alphons.

The BJP has just one member in the 140-seat Kerala Assembly in veteran former Union Minister O. Rajagopal.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com