Kerala political violence: RSS and BJP men attacked in Kozhikode, CPM worker arrested

Three RSS men were attacked in Kozhikode on Saturday.

As the political violence between CPM and RSS continues, three RSS men and one BJP worker were attacked in Kerala’s Kozhikode on Saturday. It has been alleged that the group who attacked them consisted of CPM workers, and one of them has been arrested.

The RSS and BJP workers have been admitted to hospital.

#UPDATE 4 RSS workers and 1 BJP worker were attacked yesterday in Kozhikode, admitted to hospital #Kerala

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 5, 2017

Meanwhile, police have registered an offence against RSS leader Kundan Chandravat, who had announced a bounty of Rs 1 crore for beheading Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. RSS also stripped Chandravat of the post of Ujjain Mahanagar Sah Prachar Pramukh (joint chief of publicity).

His speech sparked an uproar, drawing condemnation from the RSS, the CPI(M) and the Congress two days ago.

In a video, which went viral, Chandravat could be purportedly seen saying that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is behind the killing of RSS workers there and he will pay Rs 1 crore to anyone who beheads him and brings his (Vijayan’s) head to him.

He also claimed that 300 innocent people belonging to the RSS had been killed but the Kerala Chief Minister was turning a blind eye.

The RSS was quick to condemn Chandravat’s statement, stating the organisation did not believe in violence.

Kerala has been witnessing a series of political clashes between the cadres of BJP-RSS and the ruling CPI(M), especially in the northern Kannur district from where Vijayan hails, for a long time.

Both parties have blamed each other for the cycle of violence which has claimed several lives on both sides.

As his remarks drew condemnation from various quarters, including the Sangh, Chandravat had retracted his statement.

He had claimed he got some phone calls from Kerala threatening to kill him and was being targeted in social media. “I was pained on the issue of murders of Swayamsevaks and therefore made an emotional statement. I retract it (statement) and express my regret,” Chandravat had said in a statement.

Source : DNA