Mangaluru: The political enmity between the CPI (M) and Sangh Parivar is likely to cross the Kerala border and enter Karnataka with both parties locking horns over the visit of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to Mangaluru.
The CPI(M)'s invitation to Pinarayi to inaugurate the 'Aikyatha Rally,' (Harmony Rally) in Mangaluru on Saturday has annoyed the BJP and Sangh Parivar which have called for a one-day hartal.
Sources said the enmity between the Left and other parties in Kerala is well known and many a time has resulted in murders. This ‘hate politics’ is now set to enter Dakshina Kannada. Sources said that with elections in Karnataka fast approaching, political parties are trying to show their might. The 'Harmony Rally,' has turned into a platform for a battle between CPI(M) and saffron outfits.
CPI(M) leaders however claim the harmony convention is being held for harmony in society as the coastal region is continuously witnessing attacks. "Two Chief Ministers belonging to our party tour various states to attend programmes organised by the party and frontal organisations. Our politburo decides the schedule and now it has decided that Vijayan has to attend the Mangaluru programme," CPI(M) district secretary Vasanth Achari told Deccan Chronicle.
"Vijayan cannot be blamed for the political clashes in Kerala. We will shortly release the list of CPI(M) cadre and leders who have been killed by the Sangh Parivar in Kerala," he said and asked saffron outfits not to hold the hartal on Saturday.
"What if we too protest when their leaders Amit Shah and Narendra Modi come to DK." he asked. He stressed the need to hold harmony programmes in the district as there were many incidents of communal tension. "There may not be big incidents. But passions are kept alive during small communal incidents,” he claimed.
