'BJP workers killed to prevent our expansion'

BJP President Amit Shah attributed the “political killings” of BJP-RSS workers in Kerala on the CPI(M)’s objective to “instil fear” among the people and prevent his party from expanding in the state.

Shah, who was addressing a Jan Raksha Yatra in the capital, also charged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was instrumental in unleashing the violence on the opposition workers.

“Since the CPI came to power in Kerala, over 120 BJP workers have been killed. They killed them brutally,” said Shah. He asked “why are the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers being hacked into pieces when they can be felled by bullets? It is being done because they want to give the message that if anyone supports or joins the BJP they would be killed. It is being done to instil fear in the minds of the people not to support the BJP there.”

The BJP president said, “the more the Left parties indulge in violence politics, the more will the lotus bloom. For BJP workers, their party is the ideology and they are not scared of sacrificing for the nation and the party ideology.”

He said, “BJP workers won’t tolerate many killings of its workers. We won’t reply violence with violence as we are not Communists but we will spread awareness against political killings.”

Shah also lashed out at those who are “silent” over the issue of “Communist atrocities” in Kerala. Questioning their “selective protests” he said, “Why do they not take out any march at the India Gate against the atrocities committed by the Left?”

The yatra was from the Central Park of Connaught Place to the CPI central office in Gole Market. Union tourism minister K Alphons, who hails from Kerala were also present at the rally.: All eyes will be on the Madras High Court on Monday, when it is likely to give its verdict on the disqualification of rebel AIADMK MLAs supporting ousted leader T T V Dhinakaran, as well as Opposition DMK's petition seeking floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

The high court will be once again hearing a petition of the AIADMK 18 MLAs from the Dinakaran camp, who were disqualified by Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal for withdrawing support to the Edappadi K Palaniswami government.

In addition, the DMK's plea, seeking that the Assembly hold a trust vote of Palaniswami's government, is expected to be taken up by the court.

Justice K Ravichandrababu, who was hearing both the petitions, adjourned the case till Monday after a marathon hearing on October 4.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the rebel MLAs, who argued that the legislators were only against Palaniswami's government and had not switched to another party, had sought more time to complete his contentions.

The Justice also made it clear that when the petitions come for hearing on October 9, no one should seek more time with regard to the case.

Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Assembly speaker, had asked the court to first hear the DMK's plea seeking floor test in the House.

However, the court said it will hear the floor test petition only after case of disqualification of MLAs is over.