Alappuzha: The police are filing false cases and harassing those who protested against the Vishu advertisement card published by Cherthala-based Mehr Manti and Grills, which depicted Bhagwan Krishna in a derogatory manner. Anil Vilayil, State General Secretary of the VHP, said in a press conference that Hindu organisations will launch strong agitation programmes against this. He said that the district police chief is leading these actions and that the police are attempting to disturb the prevailing peaceful atmosphere.
He further stated that the “police terror” of filing false cases against peaceful protesters must end, and that the cases voluntarily registered by the Cherthala police should be withdrawn. According to him, such actions reflect the policy of the Pinarayi government, shielding those who commit the act and punishing those who respond by pointing it out. He added that the Cherthala police’s move to file cases even against women and to enter their homes is unacceptable.
Vilayil demanded that all false cases be withdrawn immediately and that the mobile phones seized from the accused be returned without delay. He also noted that subsequent developments suggest that the incident in Cherthala is not isolated. Vishu greetings insulting Bhgwan Krishna have appeared in around eight locations across Keralam, including in a shoe shop, and a similar incident has reportedly occurred outside the state in Bangalore.
He described the present developments as a “test dose” of Jihad networks and said that both legal and moral struggles will be carried forward against the police action. Despite what he termed a serious insult to Hindus, he criticised the silence of the Chief Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, Alappuzha MP and AICC general secretary K. C. Venugopal, and Cherthala MLA P. Prasad, stating that their inaction amounts to encouragement of “jihadi forces.” He reiterated that protests will be intensified against any actions that promote insult to Hindu beliefs. C. N. Jinu, State Secretary of Hindu Aikya Vedi, and M. Jayakrishnan, VHP Regional Secretary, were also present at the press conference.
BDJS warns of statewide protests
Thushar Vellappally, President of BDJS, said in a statement that the public insult issued by an institution in Cherthala, Meher, on social media, targeting Bhagwan Krishna, should not be taken lightly. He stated that over the past few days, the insult has been unfolding through slogans that have disturbed the peaceful atmosphere and are now manifesting publicly, portraying society in a negative light. He further pointed out that, in protest against the incident, the police have registered cases under the same sections against State General Secretary P. S. Jyothi and District General Secretary K. R. Rupesh, who participated in a protest led by the BDJS Alappuzha District Committee.
Vellappally described the police action as “surprising and shameful,” alleging that instead of punishing the culprits, action has been taken against those who exposed the issue. He said this raises serious concerns about justice and amounts to a challenge to the legal system. He demanded that the police ensure justice in the matter, warning that failure to do so would prompt BDJS to organise statewide protest rallies with strong agitation measures.
