Tripura violence part of "conspiracy" at the national level to target marxists: Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Tuesday alleged that the violence unleashed against LDF workers in Tripura was part of a "conspiracy" at the national level to target communists. The violence followed the BJPs victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections in the northeast state, where a 25-year Communist government was ousted.

Strongly condemning the attacks against LDF workers, Vijayan said the BJP-RSS should not think that communists would cease to exist "just by pulling down four statues."

"It is wishful thinking that they could wipe out communists from the country.. the violence is part of a conspiracy at the national level to target communists," he added.

Communists were committed to safeguarding democracy and secularism even by sacrificing their lives, Vijayan said in a Facebook post.

A statue of Lenin was pulled down by some people with an excavator machine at Belonia in South Tripura district, yesterday, with the CPI-M holding BJP workers responsible for it.

Condemning the violence, CPI-M Kerala State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan urged all democratic minded people to take part in demonstrations to be organised by the Left parties at various centres in the state tomorrow, protesting the violence.

Balakrishnan alleged that CPI(M) and Left party offices and cadres were targeted by RSS-BJP workers.

A total of 200 houses of party workers were attacked within one hour of the election results, he said.

Balakrishnan also alleged that the saffron partys victory was due to money power and tampering with electronic voting machines.

Condemning the attacks, CPI Kerala secretary Kannam Rajendran charged that the BJP won the polls by aligning with separatist forces in that state.

Rajendran alleged that the violence came against the backdrop of a BJP leader reportedly stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken a mission to wipeout the communists in the country.

Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said in New Delhi that the government condemns all kinds of violence but "statues of foreign leaders are not required in India."

Union Home Munister Rajnath Singh has called up Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy and DGP A K Shukla and asked them to ensure peace and check violence till a new government is installed in the state.