HYDERABAD: Renewed hostility from Sangh parivar outfits seem to have put Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on edge. In the days leading up to the CM’s visit to Mangalore, a CPM office was set ablaze. This was quickly followed by RSS man Kundan Chandrawat putting a `1 crore bounty on Vijayan’s head.
Clad in red shirts and khaki trousers, around 40 to 50 persons called ‘Red Brigades’ are expected to guard the Kerala CM during his one-day tour to Hyderabad.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongman, largely perceived as the lone torch bearer of leftist ideology against Hindutva forces, is here in the city on Sunday to participate in a public meeting at Saroornagar Stadium in the city. The meeting is organised as the culmination of Maha Padayatra led by CPM State secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram.
In the wake of threats from right wing leaders, who hold Vijayan responsible for political murders of RSS cadre in Kerala by CPM activists, the Communist leader’s visit to the city has gathered many eyeballs. Undeterred by threats, the Kerala CM would be protected by his own team of ‘Red Brigades’.
Senior police officials told Express that they have received information regarding Kerala Chief Minister’s tour to the city from protocol department officials in providing special vehicles and armed security to Chief Minister till his tour ends following threats to communist CM from right wing elements.
“However, the Kerala Police Intelligence Security officials have politely refused to accept much security forces from Telangana and also requested provision of a vehicle as part of protocol,’’ sources said.
“Keeping in mind the Right wing leaders threats to Kerala Chief Minister, the Telangana State party leaders have selected a team of youngsters from the cadre to coordinate with the Red Brigades in providing security to Vijayan.
The Red brigade team will be deployed at the venue in keeping track of the movements of suspects if any. However, the party leaders in the state here are not concerned about the Right wing leaders threats,” party sources said.
Venue shifted due to BJP
Earlier, the venue was fixed at the Nizam College Grounds for its public meeting. However, the BJP MLA Raja Singh wrote to Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Sharma requesting the police to not allow Kerala CM into the city. In his letter, the BJP MLA also warned that he would obstruct the CPM’s public meeting.
A day after BJP MLA’s letter to DGP, the police have convened a meeting with the CPM leaders in the city and directed them to shift the venue to Saroornagar Stadium from Nizam College grounds.