Cong, IUML slam CPM's Vijayaraghavan for attributing Rahul, Priyanka's Wayanad win to 'fundamentalist' support

Thiruvananthapuram: CPM politburo member A Vijayaraghavan has invited strong criticism from the Congress and India Union Muslim League for his statement that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra won from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat with support from Muslim extremist outfits.

While Congress accused Vijayaraghavan of following the BJP-Sangh Parivar line and demanded the CPM to expel him from the politburo, IUML's youth outfit filed a police complaint accusing him of trying to trigger hatred.

It was while addressing the CPM district meet in Wayanad the other day that the former Rajya Sabha MP made the controversial remark. He said that "extremist fundamentalist elements helped Rahul win from Wayanad". He also said that the extreme communal elements could be seen in the forefront of Priyanka's election rallies in Wayanad.

While AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said that it was unfortunate that a CPM politburo member is making such communal remarks, leader of opposition V D Satheesan said that Vijayaraghavan was following the line of the CPM leadership in Kerala led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of pleasing the Sangh Parivar outfits. Congress Working Committee member Ramesh Chennithala said that CPM should expel Vijayaraghavan from the politburo and a criminal case should be taken against him.

IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty said that the CPM leader was openly making communally sensitive remarks owing to the desperation over the party losing its base in the state.

Youth League filed a police complaint seeking action against Vijayan for trying to spread hatred and trigger communal sentiments.

Vijayaraghavan often courted controversy for his remarks. Recently he justified the CPM action of erecting a stage on the main road in Thiruvananthapuram and obstructing traffic by asking why people were insisting on traveling in cars. The statement had also invoked strong reactions.