The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lodged a complaint with the Central Election Commission (CEC), State Election Commission (SEC), and Malappuram District Police Chief against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for his alleged communal remarks regarding the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
The complaint, filed by BJP state executive member K.K. Surendran, centers around CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s purported baseless allegations against the CAA during an anti-CAA rally organized by the Constitution Protection Committee in Malappuram district on March 24. In his address, the Chief Minister allegedly accused the BJP-led Union government of attempting to convert Muslims into second-class citizens through the CAA by deliberately excluding them from the list of communities eligible for citizenship.
Surendran’s complaint asserts that CM Vijayan’s statements are misleading and divisive, aiming to create a rift between Hindus and Muslims while inciting hatred among them. The BJP contends that Vijayan’s speech violates the country’s Constitution and is politically motivated. The complaint further alleges that such speeches by the Chief Minister instigate religious sentiments, incite riots, and contribute to communal tension.
The BJP’s complaint demands immediate legal action against CM Pinarayi Vijayan and calls for his exclusion from election campaigning in light of the imminent Lok Sabha elections. It condemns the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM’s “venomous” speech, suggesting that it implies Muslims are not welcome in India by law.
Addressing a rally organized by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM against the implementation of the CAA, Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that the Union government disregards objections raised by foreign countries and the United Nations against the CAA. He also accused the BJP of implementing the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), portraying minorities and communists as enemies.
Furthermore, Vijayan claimed that Sangh Parivar leaders advocate for the extradition of Muslims from India to Pakistan. He expressed pride in his government being the first to register a protest against the CAA in the country, despite efforts to rally all non-NDA parties together against it, alleging that the Congress later retreated from the opposition.
BJP leaders K.K. Surendran and P.K. Krishnadas condemned Vijayan’s remarks, emphasising his position as the Chief Minister rather than just a party leader. Surendran accused Vijayan of targeting the vote bank of a specific community through his speeches, noting variations in his rhetoric based on the district and the significance of the Ramadan period.
Surendran indicated his intention to challenge Vijayan’s speech in court for violating the Model Code of Conduct during the parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, Krishnadas accused the Chief Minister of inciting communal tensions and promoting anti-national sentiments akin to Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s two-nation theory.
State BJP president K Surendran asserted that Vijayan’s anti-CAA statements aimed to divide society along communal lines. He further criticised the Chief Minister for closing cases against anti-CAA protestors, alleging that this move was made to appease a specific community. Surendran emphasized that such actions violated the Model Code of Conduct, and the BJP intends to approach the Central Election Commission (CEC) regarding the matter.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Sudhamshu Thirvedi echoed similar sentiments, condemning Vijayan’s anti-CAA speech as an attempt to foster division within society.
In Kerala, both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) are expected to intensify their attacks against the CAA, as they vie for support from the minority vote bank ahead of upcoming elections.
