Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy on Saturday slammed Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and compared his acts with those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said Vijayan's acts are similar to that of PM Modi, who try to threaten those who are opposed to them, using authority and power.
Two time former Kerala Chief Minister and AICC general secretary Chandy said the two are one and the same, after Pinarayi Vijayan gave the nod to prosecute State Congress President Mullapally Ramachandran for his criticism of State Police chief (SPC) Loknath Behera.
"Since the remark is highly defamatory for a public servant of the rank of DGP and SPC it is likely to create grave misunderstanding among the public at large and will also adversely affect the morale of the police force. Behera requested sanction to prosecute Ramachandran, u/s 199 (4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The government have examined the matter in detail and are pleased to accord sanction to prosecute Ramachandran," read the sanction of prosecution given.
"It's a disgrace that both the SPC and Pinarayi Vijayan have sought to prevail upon the freedom of expression. Pinarayi Vijayan is taking the same path that is being followed by Modi. What Kerala has witnessed is the worst ever Home Minister (Pinarayi Vijayan) as numerous political murders, custodial deaths and public servants have been attacked by the police. We will continue to criticise such acts and we are the least worried of being prosecuted, said Chandy.
Former State Congress president V. M. Sudheeran and All India Congress Committee General Secretary (organisation) K. C. Venugopal came out in Chandy's support, saying "Ramachandran's prosecution will go down as the biggest joke of 2019".
"And hence if anyone says he is acting like a CPM branch secretary, it's nothing but the truth. By giving the sanction for prosecution of our president, what has come out is the real fascist face of Pinarayi Vijayan," said Sudheeran.
(IANS)
