THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has demanded the arrest of BJP leaders for their ‘casteist action’ of spraying cow dung solvent to ‘purify’ a venue where Kodikkunnil Suresh MP had sat on a satyagraha near the Kottarakara railway station the other day. His demand has come amid the SC-ST Commission taking cognisance and issuing notice to the offenders. “The BJP could not even tolerate a satyagraha for the cause of development. By performing the act of purification, fascists have insulted Kerala,’’ an incensed Ramesh said,in a statement .
The incident of spraying cow dung solvent by BJP men at the venue where Mavelikkara MP Kodikunnil Suresh, a Dalit, left after finishing a fast demanding expediting the remaining works on the Kollam-Shencottah broad gauge section and running of long- distance trains on the route, has turned into a big casteist issue. Ramesh said the BJP act showed the ugly anti-Dalit face of the party and stands proof for the fact that only upper caste thoughts and interests guided the party.
‘’A case should be immediately registered under the provisions of the SC-ST Atrocities Act on the Kottarakara incident,’’ he demanded.KPCC spokesperson Joseph Vazhakkan also demanded the arrest of ‘upper caste BJP leaders’ who had led the ‘purification ceremony’. ‘’The BJP leaders should understand that Kerala is not like North India where atrocities are being reported against Dalits in a span of every 18 minutes,’’ he said.