Rajeev Chandrasekhar says BJP will take all necessary legal action to protect arrested councillor Sugathan

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BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MLA | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president and MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Friday that the party will take all legal actions necessary to protect Thiruvananthapuram Corporation councillor R. Sugathan, who was arrested under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) two days ago.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Chandrasekhar said that the arrest was “politically motivated.”

“The BJP will do everything it has to do to protect Sugathan. If someone wants to play politics using the police, we also know how to respond politically. But unlike the CPI(M), which vandalised vehicles in response to an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid, we will take this on legally. Let no SHO, comrade or the Home Minister have any doubt regarding that,” he said.

Mr. Sugathan, who represents the Vazhottukonam ward in the City Corporation, was taken into custody during a dramatic late-night police operation on Tuesday in an attempt to murder case. The arrest has triggered a political confrontation within the city Corporation, with both the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) demanding Mr. Sugathan’s removal from the council.

Speaking on the completion of 12 years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, he said that Mr.Modi’s politics of performance is a contrast to Kerala’s economic struggles under successive LDF and UDF governments.

“During the election campaign, the current Chief Minister made a slew of promises, but now he is talking about the fiscal situation. Wasn’t he aware of this when he was in the Opposition for 10 years? The Congress gave such huge promises despite having a knowledge of the State’s fiscal situation. They have now offered free travel for women in KSRTC buses, but even they know that they cannot implement this. Our State is struggling because of its weak economy, price rise and joblessness. Whatever be the ide