THIRUVANTHAPURAM: Union finance minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Sunday put the onus of ending the political violence in Kerala on the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, adding that violence escalated every time a Left government came to power in the state.
Jaitley said his visit was intended to ''express solidarity with the victims,'' and blamed the state police for remaining silent spectators to the violence. The police are expected to be fair, neutral and efficient in tackling violence. ''What is needed is political will, and determination by the state government to discipline its own cadres rather than let them loose on political opponents,'' he said.
On the CPM's stand that its men too were killed by RSS workers, he said such a ''fake equivalence'' that was sought to be brought between the victims and perpetrators would not end the violence. He said he did not agree with the argument that the RSS also was a party to the violence in Kerala. On the other hand, he chose to downplay the RSS' call for imposing President's rule in the state, saying ''there are statements which have been made by different people.''
Jaitley condoling the death of the deceased activist said he'd been "slaughtered in the most barbaric manner". Jaitley also directed the party cadres to provide sufficient help and rehabilitation to the slain activists Rajesh and Vishnu. Jaitley, finally, exhorted the party cadres not to forget the deceased and to extend as much as help to their grieving family members.
In the morning, the CPM had organised a gathering outside Raj Bhavan for the families of 21 party-men allegedly slain by RSS-BJP over the years. On their demand that the union minister meet them too, Jaitley said he was ''absolutely prepared'' to meet anyone. ''They are welcome. It is my duty, my responsibility,'' he said. The minister defended governor P Sathasivam's summons to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan saying that had Sathasivam remained a mute spectator, he would have failed in the discharge of his duties.
On his arrival in the morning, Jaitley visited the homes of Rajesh in Sreekaryam and Jayaprakash in Sreevaraham, partymen allegedly slain by the CPM. He also addressed public meetings in both places.
Meanwhile, the police probing the murder of Rajesh will take the accused to the crime spot on Monday. The nine arrested persons in connection with the case are under the police custody for evidence collection and further interrogation.
S L Rajesh, 34, the RSS Karyavahak of Edavacode was found murdered in front of a shop at Vinayak Nagar near Sreekariyam on July 29 after he was allegedly hacked by local DYFI activists. The nine persons were arrested after the police chased them down in a rubber plantation at Pulippara near Kattakada.