BJP threatens writer Zachariah for calling Modi 'murderer'

Thiruvananthapuram: A senior functionary of the BJP's state unit has threatened popular Malayalam writer and novelist Paul Zachariah for calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "murderer".

After the Bharatiya Janata Party lodged a complaint with the police, B. Gopalakrishnan told the media on Friday that if Zachariah did not apologize, then the BJP might be forced to "act".

According to the BJP, Zachariah made the comments about Modi, while referring to the 2002 Gujarat riots, at Palghat at a memorial meeting held for popular writer O.V. Vijayan.

The 73-year-old Sahitya Akademi award winner is known for his criticism of religious fundamentalism. Zachariah said it was for the Kerala government to decide if he was to be given any security cover in the wake of the "threat".