THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With macabre political killings in Kasargod, Kannur and Thrissur showing no signs of let up, several parts of the state are in the grip of tension raising serious concerns about law and order situation.
The frequent violence between arch rivals CPM and RSS-BJP is threatening to vitiate the atmosphere in the state ahead of local body polls.
CPM has accused the ruling UDF of tactically shielding RSS gangs with the twin objective of weakening the party on the one hand and unleashing campaign against Marxists for murder politics.
Sources said CPM is facing heat from BJP in a couple of districts with reports of its workers crossing over to the saffron camp.
The Marxist leaders admit privately though that if the party fails to protect its cadre from such attacks, they could desert the organization. This is what is leading to retaliatory politics.
Interestingly both CPM and BJP are making claims and counter claims about exodus of cadres to the rival parties.
“No one has joined BJP from CPM. RSS criminal gangs are targeting people who crossed over along with O K Vasu and Asokan,” CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told DC.
BJP state president V Muraleedharan, however, said CPM was resorting to violence as it is desperate to keep its flock together. “How can we talk peace when our workers are being targeted,” he said when asked whether his party would cooperate in restoring peace.
While CPM has accused the government of going soft on BJP-RSS attacks, the BJP says the home department has not risen to the occasion.
“The UDF and BJP’s game plan is to brand CPM as party of violence. Both believe that they can gain electorally through such campaigns. But their machinations will not succeed,” he added.
Congress vice president M M Hassan refuted the conspiracy theory. “Both BJP and CPM are sworn enemies. They have been indulging in violence against each other for years. CPM is trying to shift the blame on Congress as its workers were joining BJP in hordes.”
With CPM and BJP in no mood to talk peace at the moment, it will be a while before normalcy returns to troubled areas.
