Was RSS worker Rajesh killed by CPM's 'quotation'? The ugly side of Kerala politics

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will visit Kerala over RSS-BJP workers killings on Saturday

The family of Rajesh, who was murdered by alleged CPM activists, has claimed that he paid the price for managing to gather support for the BJP. The family believes that those who attacked Rajesh were given a 'quotation'. Their statement has put the thriving quotation mafia in Kerala politics in the spotlight.

The sole bread winner of the family, Rajesh was hacked to death on July 29. His hand was chopped off before he was stabbed 89 times by a gang of miscreants. All 11 accused have been arrested. The gang leader, identified as Manikuttan Vishnu is a known CPM worker. Incidentally, Vishnu was well known to the family. Despite the political differences, Vishnu and Rajesh were cordial. This is one of the reasons why the family believes that money was involved in the murder.

"Manikuttan was like my son. He would come home and talk to us. He would have never done this without being paid. The CPM gave them a quotation to kill my son," said Rajesh's mother sobbing. She even highlighted how Rajesh had been on the CPM's hit list ever since he convinced 15 families to shift loyalties to the BJP.

'Quotation' politics in Kerala

Political analysts in Kerala agree with Rajesh's mother. Quotation mafia is a thriving business in Kerala politics. "Has anyone wondered why only a poor party worker is killed and never a rich leader? Politics in Kerala is marred by mafia culture. It is not just a fight between party workers but is also a fight between quotation gangs. Pay the money and get the job done has become a part of the political culture. This mafia culture exists across all parties irrespective of BJP or CPM," said political analyst Zakhariya.

From Kannur, incidents of political killings have found their way to Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. All political commentators from Kerala mince no words while stating that the murders are a result of party senior leadership having no control over grassroots level workers. Even when the workers indulge in violence, the parties do not initiate any action or pull them up since the parties need them for various things.

"Parties hire professional quotation gangs. On one hand, they hire killers and on another, every party has goons or rowdies as members. It seems like the survival tactic of each party. They need these elements to break the law, extort money, indulge in corruption and get away with it. They need goons to protect themselves," Zachariya added. At this rate, it seems like no party, much in contrast to their public claims, seem to want peace in the state.

BJP leads charge against Pinarayi

According to the BJP, at least, 17 RSS-BJP workers have been killed in the last 17 months. That is one murder every month ever since Pinarayi Vijayan led LDF government came to power. To send across a point to the state government, the BJP is sending none other than union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to visit Rajesh's family. On Saturday, Jaitley will visit Kerala and raise the matter of political violence in the state.

11 people have been arrested so far in connection with Rajesh's murder case. He started going to the RSS shakhas since the age of 9. His family today has lost their sole breadwinner. His children, 6 and 3 years old his wife and aged parents are staring at uncertainty.

OneIndia News