We did everything for Mahija: Vijayan

Breaking his silence for the first time since a woman went on a five-day hunger strike demanding justice for her dead son, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said the state government had done everything it could for the family.

"We do not know what they gained by this hunger strike, as the government did everything possible for them. It's for them to say what else they wanted," Vijayan told reporters here.

"The emotional state of Mahija (the mother) was exploited and there were some who did not want their hunger strike to end. I do not know who all Sreejith (a relative of Mahija) was in touch with. If their claims are true that they are a hardcore CPI-M family, how could the SUCI (Socialist Unity Centre of India) break into their midst," he asked.

On Sunday night, Mahija and Sreejith ended their five-day fast at the Medical College Hospital after they received a written assurance to their demands from the state government, which included the arrest of the remaining accused responsible for the death of her son Jishnu Prannoy and action against the police officials who roughed them up on Wednesday.

Vijayan also opened up on the arrest of K.M. Shahjahan, a former staff of V.S. Achuthanandan, who was picked up by the police on Wednesday after he arrived to express solidarity with Mahija who were on the way to meet the state police chief.

"I have nothing against him and even if one was to assume that I had a grudge against him, then did we have to wait for 10 months to do this, it could have been done earlier too.

"Now a new guardian for Shahjahan in the form of Oommen Chandy (former Chief Minister) has surfaced. Let the police probe what was the role of Shahjahan," said Vijayan.

Shahjahan told the media that he was jailed for a week due to the "personal vendetta" of Vijayan.

"In due course I will reveal the reason of Vijayan's vendetta towards me," said Shahjahan.

On Tuesday, Shahjahan got conditional bail from a local court here.

Shahjahan's mother L. Thankamma, 80, a retired scientist from the Rubber Board of India, was relieved to hear that her son has got bail and she called off her fast, which she began on Sunday for his release.

"What's the doubt, Vijayan is settling scores with my son for his stand taken in the SNC Lavalin case. My son will continue to take the same position," said Thankamma.

SUCI activists Shajer Khan and his wife Mini after their release said that they thank the entire Kerala community for their tireless support towards them for the past one week since they were jailed.

"It's Vijayan who conspired against us and jailed us. All what we did was to express our solidarity to Mahija who was fighting for justice for her dead son. We have always expressed our position and taken a stand on public issues and will continue to do so," Khan told the media.

Meanwhile, Sreejith said everybody knows the reason on why they decided to go on protest.

Kozhikode district Communist Party India-Marxist Secretary P. Mohanan denied news reports that Sreejith, a party worker, has been ousted from the party for indiscipline and for fighting with the CPI-M government.

--IANS

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