Centre harming opposition parties: Chief Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that the central government was tormenting the opposition parties using investigation agencies, including the ED. The Chief Minister was inaugurating a mass rally organized by the LDF District Committee at Greenfield Stadium demanding the repeal of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

"The central government is subverting the country's democratic system. It does not hesitate to take any action against those who question it. The situation in the country is such that the powers of the government systems are given to the priests. A chief minister has been put in jail. The Centre is attempting to interfere even in the judiciary. Electoral bond is the biggest scam the country has seen. It is the BJP that received the most money. Congress also got a fair amount. Only the Communist parties said they would not accept this kind of money," the CM said.

"Giving citizenship to refugees is a good thing. However, the fact that the Muslim category is not among the six categories eligible for citizenship is not a coincidence. The Constitution ensures equality and protection before the law to an individual regardless of his citizenship," he said.

Pinarati Vijayan said that Kerala was the first state to clearly state that it will not implement the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Population Register. He said that the Citizenship Amendment Act was a bridge to the Sangh Parivar goal of Hindu Rashtra. He also stated that the Left Front will be at the forefront of the fight against this.

CPM Acting District Secretary C Jayan Babu presided over the function. Ministers V. Sivankutty, GR Anil, Lok Sabha candidates Pannyan Raveendran, V Joy, Kadakampally Surendran MLA, M Vijayakumar, Palayam Imam VP Shuhaib Maulavi and others were present.