Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of "propagating lies" to "defame" the state, a day after Union minister Arun Jaitley charged the ruling CPI(M) of unleashing violence and eliminating rivals.
Vijayan made the accusation even as the issue of political violence involving members of the CPI(M) and the BJP rocked the first day of the state Assembly, leading to its adjournment after the Congress-led UDF opposition stalled the proceedings.
"RSS is the champion of propagating lies. And that they are doing now. People of Kerala know about RSS...Because of that we have no fear of that propaganda," Vijayan told a national TV channel when asked about the proposed demonstration by the RSS on August 9 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to protest against the violence in the state.
Apparently responding to Jaitley who had said the onus of ending violence rested with the state government, Vijayan said his government had taken "stringent impartial measures" to contain and prevent violence.
Describing the BJP/RSS campaign as "malicious", Vijayan told NDTV that they were not against the LDF government or Left parties, "but against the people of Kerala, the most peaceful state in the country."
"The propaganda is not in the interest of our state, our country and people. These people do not have any logic in using such terms or words," he said referring to remarks that brutality against BJP cadres was similar to that unleashed by the Taliban.
Lashing out at the BJP/RSS, he said "they have no worries about propagating lies. It is a well planned campaign to defame the state and its people. We are aware of it, though not worried."
"We have also asked all political parties to take utmost vigil to ensure that their followers are not indulging in violence. There may be criminal elements which might have crept into political parties. Political parties should deal with them," he said.
"They are criminals and they should not protect such elements when government takes legal measures," he said.
The people of Kerala know that the government had taken "stringent impartial" measures to contain and prevent violence.
Jaitley yesterday accused the CPI(M) of unleashing its cadres for "eliminating rivals and creating en environment of violence".
Pointing out that Kerala was the "most peaceful state," Vijayan said authentic data will prove the state's claim.
According to various surveys, the state tops with regard to law and order, was free from communal riots, lowest crime rates against adivasis and dalits, he said.
Hitting out at the Congress party, he said "Congress is joining the propaganda with political motives," he said, adding it will also harm the state's investment prospects and tourism industry.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)