CM Pinarayi Vijayan opposes misuse of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
Thiruvananthapuram: Amidst the raging controversy over misuse of sedition and anti-terror charges against writers and human rights activists, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday made it clear that he was against laws like Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (Kerala Anti social Activities (Prevention) Act laws. The Chief Minister said he was of the firm opinion that the democratic rights of the people should not be denied under any circumstances. However, he refuted the allegations that the goveremnt had lost the control over police department.
The Chief Minister's statement comes in the wake of widespread criticism against the misuse of sedition and anti terror laws against human rights activist Nadir and writer Kamal C. Chavara. Meanwhile, CPM state secretariat also opposed the slapping of UAPA and sedition charges against activists and writers. The UAPA and sedition charges should be used only against terror activities or those indulging in terror acts. But using it against the political workers, activists and writers was totally uncalled for, it was observed.
The secretariat reiterated that the police should strictly adhere to the LDF government’s well stated police policy which is to protect the rights of the people. A section of CPM leaders were also unhappy over the manner in which the police was going about slapping sedition charges and anti terror charges on false complaints. CPM state secretariat member Anathalavattom Anandan had said on Thursday that Chief Minister was fully responsible for implementing LDF and CPM policy. There was also pressure from the central leadership on the state government particularly the chief minister who also holds the home portfolio to rein in the officers who were resorting to anti-democratic actions.
