Alappuzha/Idukki/Kochi (Kerala), April 4 Rahul Gandhi, a top Congress leader, raised concerns about alleged attacks on minorities in Manipur and Chhattisgarh during his election campaign in central Kerala districts, and claimed that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was aligned with those responsible for such incidents.
Addressing election rallies in Alappuzha, Kattappana in Idukki district, and Fort Kochi and Kunnathunad in Ernakulam district ahead of the April 9 Assembly election, Gandhi spoke about the situation.
His remarks came amid concerns expressed by sections of the Christian community over proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), which seek stricter monitoring of foreign funds.
In Alappuzha, former CPI(M) leader G Sudhakaran, contesting as a UDF-backed candidate, was also present on the stage.
Gandhi alleged that minorities were facing widespread attacks across the country.
"Two nuns from Chhattisgarh were attacked. In Manipur, churches were burned. The chief minister is working with those responsible. The people attacking minorities – Muslims, Christians and Sikhs – are working with the CM," he alleged, adding that the BJP and LDF are collaborating to defeat the UDF.
He repeated similar allegations at other campaign venues.
In Kochi, Gandhi said the LDF was no longer a Left formation, but a partner of a political force that attacks people based on their faith – whether they are Christians, Muslims, Sikhs or Jains.
"How can the chief minister stand with them? How can he not be ashamed after his Left training? He is aligned with this force," the Congress leader said, adding that Vijayan must answer to the people of Kerala.
He also directly targeted Vijayan, alleging that the CM was "afraid" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in order to protect his children. Rahul made an apparent reference to the Exalogic case allegedly involving the CM's daughter, without naming anyone.
"How can any father not want to protect their children? But the problem is that you allowed things that require protection to happen. You allowed things that require protection," he said.
Gandhi said it was important to understand whose protection a Left Front leader was seeking.
"He is seeking the protection of the most right-wing people in the country. That is the nature of politics in Kerala," he alleged.
"He sacrifices to protect his children and Kerala is suffering because of it," he added.
Gandhi further claimed that the chief minister’s past actions had "trapped" him, and that people in Kerala were suffering as a result.
At Kunnathunad, he described Vijayan as a "right-wing puppet". "He will do exactly what the right wing says," he alleged.
He reiterated that the LDF was no longer a Left formation.
"What does LDF stand for—Left Democratic Front. Now, frankly, there is nothing Left in the LDF. After the election, there will be nothing left," he said.
Gandhi alleged that a "hidden hand" was guiding the LDF.
"That hidden hand is communal, does not accept the Constitution of India, divides people and spreads hatred. Everyone in Kerala can see the connection between BJP, RSS and CPI(M)," he claimed.
Taking a dig at Modi, Gandhi said the Prime Minister speaks about religion and temples in his speeches elsewhere, but avoids such issues in Kerala.
"But when he comes to Kerala, he forgets all that because he wants to help the LDF. The truth is he knows the LDF will never challenge him nationally," he alleged.
He also alleged that Modi was influenced by US President Donald Trump.
Gandhi criticised a trade deal with the United States, alleging it would harm small farmers, and claimed that developments in the Middle East could lead to fuel shortages, affecting India’s energy security.
"India cannot buy oil from any country without the permission of the US President. Who is Donald Trump to tell us where to buy oil and gas from," he asked.
Raising local issues, Gandhi alleged that Kerala had become a "drug capital" and claimed that 75 per cent of paddy farmers were in debt.
"Coir, which was a fundamental industry in the area, has been destroyed. Around 1.3 lakh workers do not have work," he said in Alappuzha.
In Idukki, a district with a large number of farmers and plantation workers, Gandhi highlighted issues such as agrarian distress, land rights and human-animal conflict.
"If they were truly Left, workers and plantation sectors would not have been suffering," he said.
He claimed that crops such as tea, rubber and cardamom were on the decline and alleged that the LDF had failed to fulfil its promise to raise the rubber MSP.
Gandhi said thousands of families were denied land rights and could neither build homes nor cultivate land.
He also claimed that the healthcare system in Idukki had "collapsed", citing the absence of a super-speciality hospital and the need for residents to travel to Kottayam for treatment.
Referring to human-animal conflict, he said the UDF would address the issue if voted to power.
Gandhi alleged rising unemployment, claiming that "one out of three" people were jobless and that political affiliation influenced job opportunities.
He said the UDF’s five guarantees would be implemented once it comes to power.