KOTTAYAM: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan came with a riposte to Home minister Amit Shah's criticism of the safety of Kerala. Pinarayi Vijayan while speaking in Kottayam said "what was there to talk about Kerala? " He also asserted that Kerala is a land free from any divide based on religion or caste. Adding on, he stated that Kerala is the same soil that gave birth to martyrs who prevented religious extremism from seeping into the southern state. The chief minister then made a jibe asking about the conditions of BJP-ruled states in the country.

“ The central government is a pawn of corporates. The ideal governance should ensure the well-being of commoners too. The people are starving, with unemployment also booming on the other side of the spectrum. BJP wants to shield such news from public glare, so they bring In the religious card creating ruckus among different societies”. opined CM Vijayan.

He also commented on the ever-running works of the BJP to make the Kerala state adorn the saffron color. He said all such attempts will go in vain as the people will stand resolute and will be a bulwark to any such insinuating moves from the BJP.

Amit Shah at Puthur in Mangalore on Saturday warned the people that if the BJP did not return back to power, the state would be like Kerala. The hint was mainly at the recent cases of Islamic extremists and the busting of PFI officials from Kerala.