President Ram Nath Kovind expressed his concerns over the political violence in Kerala and called upon the political groups and citizens to curb the same as it has no place in the constitution. In the inaugural function of national-level conclaves to mark the conclusion of diamond jubilee of the legislative assembly yesterday, Presiden Kovind said “that people of Kerala and the citizens of India deserve that we do serious thinking on the issue” (political violence) which does very little justice to the glorious tradition and history of debate, mutual dignity and respect for others’ point of view of the state.
He added that debate, dissent and disagreements are accepted and welcomed in the polity but violence has no place in a democracy. Stating that the political violence has a dampening effect on the glorious past of the state, he urged the citizens to do their utmost to curb the violence.
In recent times, Kerala has seen turbulent times in terms of political killings with workers and supporters from either side of the political spectrum being murdered, many times brutally. Kannur, Kerala CM Pinaryi Vijayan’s hometown, seems to have become synonymous to political violence with the rampant killings. Recently, members of a radical Islamist outfit were arrested for murdering CPM’s student leader in Kerala college. Many youths from Kerala have also reportedly joined the ISIS owing to an increased influence of fundamental Islam.