The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Kerala): On Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) charged the Congress with attempting to gain an upper hand in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections by allegedly courting the “support of terrorists.” This accusation comes in the wake of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), known as the political wing of the prohibited Popular Front of India (PFI), extending its backing to the Congress-driven United Democratic Front in Kerala.
Despite this contentious support, V D Satheesan, Congress’s Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, clarified to reporters that the UDF had not entered into any formal agreement with the SDPI following its endorsement for the Lok Sabha elections in the state.
The BJP did not hold back in its criticism, with national spokesperson Prem Shukla taking a jab at Rahul Gandhi’s rhetoric of spreading a “message of love,” interpreting it instead as a veiled overture to terrorism and separatism. Shukla, in a press briefing, lambasted Gandhi for purportedly welcoming the electoral support of the SDPI, an entity he associated with the PFI and its terrorist affiliations, especially during his visit to Wayanad.
The BJP spokesperson questioned the Congress’s decision to accept support from a group like the SDPI, which he claimed was synonymous with terrorist activities. This appeal for an explanation was echoed by the BJP’s Kerala faction, which sought a clarification from Gandhi on his stance regarding the SDPI’s endorsement.
Moreover, Home Minister Amit Shah also chimed in, casting doubts on the Congress’s ability to ensure public safety if it is willing to accept backing from an organization like the SDPI. During an election rally in Karnataka’s Ramanagara district, Shah linked recent violent incidents in Bengaluru with the SDPI’s support for the Congress, raising concerns about security under a Congress-led administration.
The Centre had declared the PFI an illegal organization in September 2022, invoking the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) due to its alleged involvement in terror activities. Established in Kerala in 2006 with its headquarters in Delhi, the PFI has been at the center of various controversies leading up to its ban.