Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday strongly condemned the brutal lynching of a man from Chhattisgarh in Palakkad, warning of attempts to import a culture of mob violence into the state. He squarely blamed forces associated with the Sangh Parivar for promoting this trend, which he said was prevalent in some northern parts of India.
Government Action and Financial Aid for Victim's Family
Vijayan asserted that the state government would pursue all legal avenues to ensure maximum punishment for those involved in the killing of Ramnarayan Baghel near Walayar in Palakkad. He revealed that some of the accused had criminal backgrounds and communal mindsets. "It is our responsibility to prove that Kerala is not fertile ground for such actions," the Chief Minister declared during a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram.
In a significant decision, the state cabinet approved financial assistance of Rs 30 lakh from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund for Baghel's family. The aid will be distributed as follows: Rs 5 lakh each to his wife and mother, and Rs 10 lakh each to his two children.
Rising Concerns Over Attacks on Christmas Celebrations
The Chief Minister expressed deep concern over reported incidents of attacks on Christmas celebrations in several north Indian states, alleging the hand of Sangh Parivar forces behind them. He cited the example of the Uttar Pradesh government cancelling the Christmas holiday and instead directing celebrations for former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birthday.
Vijayan pointed to disturbing trends within Kerala as well. He mentioned a controversy in Thiruvananthapuram where Christmas-New Year celebrations at post offices were cancelled after the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh demanded the inclusion of a patriotic song. In a separate incident in Palakkad, a Christmas carol group, including children, was attacked, an act that some BJP leaders allegedly justified.
He further stated that reports had emerged of pressure from RSS-affiliated organisations on private schools in Kerala to cancel Christmas celebrations. The government has ordered an urgent investigation into such coercion and warned of strict action against anyone obstructing religious festivities or practicing discrimination.
"The rise of such forces in Kerala is a matter of serious concern. We cannot accept any encroachment on the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution," Vijayan stated. He accused the Sangh Parivar of opposing the country's pluralism and tradition of coexistence, highlighting a stark contrast from last year when they visited Christian homes with cakes during Christmas to now attacking carol groups.
Electoral Setback and the Sabarimala Factor
Shifting to the recent local body elections, Vijayan addressed the Sabarimala gold theft case, dismissing it as the primary reason for the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) unexpected electoral setback. He argued that if the issue had widespread impact, the BJP would have gained significantly, which did not happen.
"Sabarimala may also have played a role, but it does not appear to have been a significant factor. Its impact would also be looked into," he remarked. He noted that if Sabarimala was a major factor, its effect would have been most evident in Pathanamthitta district. However, the BJP failed to make gains there and even lost control of Pandalam municipality.
Vijayan alleged an 'unholy nexus' between the BJP and the Congress (UDF) in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, pointing to vote share patterns. He claimed the LDF lost 23 wards to the BJP by margins of less than 60 votes, and in those wards, the UDF secured fewer than 1,000 votes. Conversely, in wards won by the UDF, the BJP polled fewer than 1,000 votes, suggesting tactical cooperation against the LDF.
He challenged Congress leaders targeting the LDF over the Sabarimala controversy to explain who facilitated meetings between key accused Unnikrishnan Potty and jeweller R Govardhan with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, referencing a recently surfaced photograph with Congress MPs.
Other Developments: VCs and Protest Carols
On the issue of appointing Vice-Chancellors, Vijayan said the government and Governor Rajendra Arlekar had agreed to cooperate on university matters to restore campus peace. He clarified that it was the Governor who first reached out to him by phone seeking a meeting, which he found to be a positive turn.
Meanwhile, CPM state secretary M V Govindan, speaking at a party Christmas celebration in Kollam, said Christmas carols were being communalized and attacked across the country, with the same hatred being propagated in Kerala. The party supports celebrating all religious festivals, he affirmed.
In a related move, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) announced it would hold 2,500 protest carols across Palakkad district to counter the attacks on Christmas celebrations and uphold Kerala's secular ethos.
