The ‘Case Raj’ perpetrated by Pinarayi Vijayan’s police during the peak of Sabarimala agitations seems to have returned in Kerala. Pinarayi’s government resorted to such fascist methods to suppress a mass movement. However, many thought that it would be over once the Lok Sabha polls are declared. But now it is evident that it has come back to haunt the state again.
Even after the polls were declared, government of Kerala continued its authoritarian attitude only to ensure that BJP’s victory in the polls is thwarted. The police have now charged BJP’s young leader and firebrand K. Surendran with as many as 242 cases, all in connection with the Sabarimala campaign. Surendran is BJP’s candidate for Lok Sabha from Pathanamthitta constituency.
These cases have been registered during the last couple of days, many days after Surendran submitted his nomination papers. Earlier too, 20 cases had been registered against him and he had obtained bail in all the cases. Now, since the nomination papers that have already been submitted do not reflect the details of these new 242 cases, Surendran has to submit fresh documents. The BJP has decried this as a blatant anti-democratic move by the Pinarayi regime to prevent Surendran from contesting. All political observers have predicted Surendran’s victory from Pathanamthitta and hence a panicky CPM has resorted to such measures to defeat BJP, say observers.
Few days ago, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha state president Advocate Prakashbabu had been jailed in connection with the Sabarimala agitation. The dynamic young leader is seeking people’s mandate from the Kozhikode constituency. He had to move a petition to get permission to file his nomination. Prakashbabu is jailed in Pathanamthitta which is an eight hours drive from his constituency.
Observers maintain that many BJP candidates will have to expect more such cases being foisted against them when the date of polls is around the corner.
