Kerala BJP chief slams CM Vijayan over his remarks on West Asia conflict

Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Sunday sharply criticised CM Pinarayi Vijayan over his recent statements on the West Asia conflict, specifically accusing him of supporting Iran while ignoring the safety of Malayali expatriates in Gulf nations.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Rajeev Chandrasekhar accused Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan of prioritising “vote-bank politics” over the safety of expatriates, alleging his pro-Iran stance ignores risks to Malayalis in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. He criticised the CM for condemning US-Israel actions while staying silent on threats to Indians in Gulf countries.

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Chandrasekhar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded to the conflict by emphasising the need to resolve conflicts through diplomacy, dialogue, and peaceful means rather than military action. He said India had provided a safe harbour to the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan at Kochi Port following a request from Tehran. Chandrasekhar further said that the BJP is pursuing a balanced, diplomatic approach regarding Iran.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar questioned the feasibility of the five guarantees announced by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the Puthuyuga Yatra rally here on Saturday, comparing them to past promises he alleged were unfulfilled and describing them as “rhetorical” and a “virus” of corruption.

“There should be a discussion on the five guarantees announced by Rahul Gandhi if the Congress-led UDF wins the upcoming Assembly polls. The Congress’s politics of empty promises should be exposed,” he said.

“If you look at the situation in the three states where the Congress is in power, you can understand the effects of its guarantees,” he said. “Government officials in Himachal Pradesh are not receiving their salaries on time. Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka D K Shivakumar has said there is no money for development in the state. The situation in Telangana is no different. The Congress will go to any level by making false promises,” he said.