Kerala's chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan (file photo)
The Pinarayi Vijayan government has slammed around 60 UAPA cases in last 5 years including the charges against CPI(M) workers like Alan and Thaha and several other left sympathizers.
Though the elections are around the corner, the UDF government has not yet raised dissent against the "indiscriminate use of this draconian law. Surprisingly, the LDF government received unexpected support from the BJP on this issue.
The 60 registered cases also includes four incidents of encounter killings of 8 suspected Maoists. The row has 'exposed' LDF governments double standard regarding the anti- terror law. Apparently the Left classifies Maoism as a political problem that demands a political solution. The UAPA cases charged against Alan and Thaha by the kerala police goes against this very ideology of the government.
Protesters against the "indiscriminate use" of the UAPA act were also tagged as "urban maoists" by the Kerala police. The state also went ahead and booked those who responded against the Maoists killings via poster campaigns under the UAPA act.
2 UAPA sections registered against Lukman Pallikandi by Iritty police was also based on a similar incident. Rajan Chittilapally was arrested based on a few visuals of him taking part in a Maoist meeting where he was found hoisting a red flag.