Kerala blasts: Union MoS Chandrasekhar booked for alleged controversial remarks; BJP slams move

BJP Kerala chief K Surendran alleged that this action by the Pinarayi Vijayan government was aimed at 'helping' and 'encouraging' divisive forces and those with extremist views.

New Delhi: A case was filed by the Kerala Police on Tuesday against Union Minister of State for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar for his statements on the Kerala blasts where he alleged that “appeasement” had led to the blasts.

He was booked for making statements that promote enmity between different groups.

In response, Chandrasekhar said that the case was filed against him since he was “exposing the appeasement” of Hamas.

Chandrasekhar’s comments had led to an exchange with Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan who later said that if anyone is found making statements in violation of the law, cases will be filed against them, irrespective of whether they are central or state ministers.

In a post on X, Chandraskhar had written that while the blast took place, Vijayan was in Delhi protesting against Israel. “Dirty shameless appeasement politics by a discredited CM (and HM) @pinarayivijayan besieged by corruption charges. Sitting in Delhi and protesting against Israel, when in Kerala open calls by Terrorist Hamas for Jihad is causing attacks and bomb blasts on innocent Christians,” he posted.

In response, the chief minister said in a statement that Chandrasekhar was trying to communally distort the issue. “His remarks and those of his associates were aimed at a certain section. It is only because Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s distorted mind cannot see it, and that is why it is not possible to destroy Kerala's identity,” Vijayan told reporters.

A complaint was filed by the Kerala unit of the Congress as well. After the case was filed, Chandrasekhar said on X that two of I.N.D.I.A bloc leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Pinarayi Vijayan, have jointly filed a case against him.

“Two of biggest appeasers in Indian politics who shamelessly appease poisonous radical violent organizations like SDPI, PFI and Hamas, whose politics have caused radicalization over decades from J&K to Punjab to Kerala and caused many innocent lives and security forces lives to be lost - trying to threaten me with a case for exposing their appeasement of Hamas,” he posted.