RSS Workers Attack Houses of CPI(M) Activists and Hospital in Kerala

Tense atmosphere prevailed in Payyannur in Kannur district of Kerala on Tuesday following violence by alleged Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers. The RSS workers, who were returning after BJP’s Jana Raksha Yatra, attacked the houses of Communist Party of India (Marxist) activists, private hospitals, ATMs and telephone exchanges and many vehicles in the area.

The Jana Raksha Yatra (Save the People March) led by BJP State President Kummanam Rajasekharan began from Payyannur on Tuesday. BJP national president Amit Shah launched the 15-day Yatra.

While blaming Pinarayi Vijayan for RSS-BJP workers’ murder in Kerala, Shah maintained silence on the rising attacks on Dalits, religious and cultural minorities and secular voices across the country.

As the Yatra began, RSS workers themselves allegedly orchestrated an attack on their own vehicles. In Onakkunnu area, one person reportedly recorded this act of RSS workers in his mobile phone. RSS resorted to attacks in the area after this incident became public.

The RSS workers from outside the State (mostly Karnataka), who were brought to Kerala for the success of the Yatra, have allegedly carried out attacks in Karivellur and Cheruvathur regions of Kannur. In Cheruvathur, stones were pelted on a private hospital, shops and vehicles. A flag post of the CITU was vandalised.

In Karivellur, CPI(M) member and retired higher secondary principal KV Kunjiraman’s house was attacked by alleged RSS workers. There was also an attempt to attack the house of Karivellur peasant struggle leader AV Kunjambu. But, Payyanur police led by Circle Inspector MP Azad arrived to stop the attack. Following this, an ATM of the Syndicate Bank was destroyed and a nearby telephone exchange attacked by the criminal elements.

CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan mocked Amit Shah during a press conference. "We hear that some ministers from the centre are coming here. It would be good if all of them travel in Kerala. They can see the natural beauty of Kerala. They can see the things Kerala has, distinct from other States. During the yatra, when they feel the urge to pee, there is no need to do so out in the open in Kerala. They can do it in a toilet in some house nearby. BJP leaders will understand that there are toilets in all houses in Kerala while travelling here. The prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas are being raised for building toilets, it is claimed. Toilets have already been built in Kerala. So it would be good if at least the people here are saved from the petroleum price hike," he said.

On Tuesday, the second day of Yatra, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath took part in a rally in Kannur.

Referring to the deaths of children in Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur, CPI(M) lashed out at Yogi. Taking to Twitter, CPI(M) said: “We invite UP CM Yogi to visit Kerala Hospitals to learn how to run Hospitals effectively!”

The CPI(M) has come up with a series of tweets against the RSS.

Tweeting with the hashtag #AlavalathiReturns, which roughly translates to 'troublemaker returns' (referring to Amit Shah), Twitterati slammed the RSS for its attempts to foment communal tension in Kerala.

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury also came down on the BJP and its political agenda in a series of tweets. Referring to Yogi’s participation in Yatra, Yechury said: “He can bring other BJP leaders and CMs along who can learn from a state which has always rejected BJP.”