Tensions rise as RSS leader calls for Kerala CM’s murder

Thiruvanthapuram, March 2: Kerala Chief Minister Pirayi Vijayan declared on Thursday he was not bothered by a RSS leader’s offer of Rs 1 crore to have him killed, but the CPI-M warned the RSS to behave. And even as the Kerala units of the Bharatiya Jata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) distanced themselves from Madhya Pradesh RSS leader Kundan Chandrawat’s threat on Wednesday, the latter on Thursday said he did not regret making the remarks.

“The RSS in the past has taken the heads of others but I have to move around, and I will,” Vijayan, who took power in May last year, said in his characteristic style and broke into a laugh.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) announced protests on Friday across Kerala and demanded that a case be registered against Chandrawat on terrorism charges.

“The true colour of the RSS has come out again,” the CPI-M said in a statement.

CPI-M Kerala Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishn said the RSS won’t be able to “remove even a hair of Vijayan” and warned the organisation “not to play with the CPI-M”.

“If they do, then we will be forced to teach them certain things.” Opposition leader and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said the RSS leader should be immediately arrested.

CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury questioned Prime Minister rendra Modi’s silence after Chandrawat’s announcement of a bounty to have Vijayan beheaded.

Holding Vijayan responsible for the killing of 300 RSS activists in Kerala, Chandrawat said on Wednesday he will give away his entire property worth over Rs 1 crore to whoever kills the Marxist veteran.

The statement was made at Ujjain in the presence of BJP MP Chintaman Malviya, BJP MLA Mohan Yadav and other RSS leaders. The video of the RSS leader has gone viral. (IANS)