Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM central leadership believes that a section of police officers in the state was behaving in a manner which was not in consonance with the LDF government's well-stated policy. The available politburo which met in Delhi discussed the developments related to the use of draconian laws like Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and sedition charges against activists and writers in Kerala. The politburo felt that the police were not expected to behave in the manner they were doing in a state where the CPM-led LDF government was in office.
The politburo said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who also holds the home portfolio was looking into the matter. Meanwhile, politburo member S. Ramachandran Pillai said the party was against the use of UAPA. “The arrest of Nadir K.P. under UAPA was based on a case filed during the UDF government’s tenure. We hope the government of Kerala will take appropriate remedial steps,” he said.
“Sedition charges in the country are being used recklessly and with political motive. UAPA is slapped in a wrong manner. Invoking sedition provisions and using them against writers and artists by raking up baseless charges was unacceptable. The sedition charges against writer Kamal C and UAPA against Nadeer are totally uncalled for. This has been stated by our party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and S. Ramachandran Pillai,” said politburo member M.A. Baby.
The party said the aberration would be corrected by the government. “Home comes under the state government unlike in Delhi or other UTs where police are under the centre’s direct control. Police officers here should implement Pinarayi Vijayan government’s policy and not Modi government’s programme. Some police officers may have a liking for Modi brand of politics at the bottom of their heart, but in Kerala they have to comply with the state government’s policy,” said a senior CPM leader. There are also allegations that a section of officers was more loyal than the king while implementing the centre’s policies perhaps with an eye on plum positions in Delhi.
