BJP leaders in Kerala have added fresh weaponry to their standard arsenal of asking critics “to go to Pakistan”, threatening them with income-tax raids and the loss of central welfare schemes.
A senior party leader has warned that Kerala could miss out on central schemes because of its Left government’s opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Law and the National Register of Citizens, and that film actors participating in the protests should be ready for the taxman’s knock.
Kerala BJP general secretary K. Surendran, widely seen as the next state unit president, on Thursday castigated the state government for opposing even the ongoing update of the National Population Register, which many see as a way of introducing the NRC through the backdoor.
“The chief minister has now said that even the regular census is not needed in Kerala,” said Surendran.
“As a chief minister, what right does Pinarayi Vijayan have to say that he would not participate in this census? You will have to answer when Kerala stops getting many (central) schemes.”
Earlier, BJP Yuva Morcha secretary Sandeep G. Varier had issued the tax-raid threat in a Facebook post on Tuesday night after Malayalam film personalities marched in Kochi chanting “azadi” slogans against the citizenship amendment and the NRC.
Among them were filmmakers Kamal, Shyam Pushkaran, Ashiq Abu and Rajiv Ravi; actors Rima Kallingal, Nimisha Sanjayan and Shane Nigam; actor-directors Geetu Mohandas and Dileesh Pothan.
“To the attention of cinema professionals who make political statements when they see a microphone and a crowd,” Varier wrote before targeting actresses in what may be construed as a misogynistic questioning of their ability to pay their own taxes.
“Especially for the attention of actresses,” he wrote. “Make sure that your father, brother or secretary is regularly paying your income tax. New cinema professionals usually make lapses in fulfilling the commitment towards the country by paying taxes promptly.”
He added: “I hope the income-tax department and Enforcement Directorate are watching. Tomorrow if you are caught for failing to pay taxes, you should not shed tears alleging political vendetta. When that happens the ganja (cannabis) teams won’t be there with you to protest.”
In the Sangh parivar’s book, all progressive people are cannabis smokers.
State minister E.P. Jayarajan censured Varier on Thursday. “If he really wants to nab those in the film field, let him first get Suresh Gopi,” the CPM leader said, referring to a BJP Rajya Sabha member and former film action hero.
“Then there are some ministers and former cinema actors. Arrest them first. We’ll talk about the rest later,” he added, without explaining who he was alluding to. “How cheap is this? They are speaking in threatening voices against a democratic protest.”
A state BJP general secretary, M.T. Ramesh, distanced the party from Varier’s remark. “People post their personal opinion on Facebook. Such personal opinions are not the party’s stand,” Ramesh told reporters. “Would the Centre have time for anything else if it treats protesters with revenge?”
But Varier told the media shortly afterwards: “I’m sticking to what I said.”
