Chief minister slams BJP for blocking Pisharody

Palakkad: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday condemned the incident of BJP workers blocking UDF candidate in Palakkad Ramesh Pisharody on Wednesday evening. The CM called it an act of intolerance and a threat to democratic values. "We should not underestimate BJP. Haven't we now seen the nature of its intolerance? Don't all candidates campaign during elections? Didn't they block the UDF candidate Pisharody in Palakkad?," he asked while campaigning for LDF candidates in Kozhikode. The incident occurred late on Wednesday evening, when women workers of the BJP blocked Pisharody during his campaign tour in Vadakkanthara. The protesters led by ward councillor Sindhu Rajan blocked Pisharody near a temple.Vijayan said that a sample of what BJP shows in other states has now been seen in Palakkad. Vijayan said that in a democratic system, democratic values must be upheld. "That is what we should recognise. We have no difference of opinion on that," he said. The CM said that everyone has the right to campaign during polls. "We do not agree with denying that right, and we strongly condemn it," he said. "What we saw there was also a kind of helplessness on the part of Congress. It is a warning of how dangerous it could be if BJP takes root in our state," he added. Pisharody said that he was invited by a woman to visit the nearby temple. "A group of women blocked our path, leading to exchange of words," he said. BJP candidate in Palakkad Sobha Surendran said that they were protesting his response to media on the arrest of filmmaker Ranjith in a sexual harassment case. Pisharody stated that he could not comment on ‘individual-specific issues'. She said his reported statement that incidents of harassment are "personal matters" is unacceptable. The women protested as they felt that he was taking a stand supportive of the accused, she added.LDF candidate NMR Razak said that such a behaviour was unheard of in Palakkad's political culture. He said every candidate has the right to seek votes freely.