Jaitely visits family of slain RSS worker Rajesh, calls murder 'most brutal' [Video]

Union finance minister Arun Jaitely on Sunday met family members of slain RSS functionary E Rajesh, a victim of political violence in Kerala, at his house in Sreekaryam near Thiruvananthapuram. 

During the visit, Jaitely spoke to Rajesh's three-year old son and his aged parents. State BJP leaders, including president Kummanam Rajasekharan, accompanied the Union minister. 

"Rajesh had 89 wounds on his body. Even an enemy country wouldn't do this kind of brutality to Indian citizens. It was the most brutal murder and we will not forget this heinous act. I am here to express my solidarity with you. The BJP workers of Kerala are not alone, the whole nation is with you," Jaitley said after meeting Rajesh's family members.

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Local leaders explained to Jaitely the concern expressed by family members, including the widow of 34-year old Rajesh, who was hacked to death on July 29 by a gang led by an alleged historysheeter.

Met family members of slain #RSS Karyakarta Shri #RajeshEdavakode in Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 6, 2017 pic.twitter.com/oDgDDmPWAX

— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) August 6, 2017

Jaitely's visit is widely seen as an attempt by the BJP to bring the issue of increasing attacks on party cadres allegedly by the CPM to national focus. The BJP has alleged that CPM activists were behind the gruesome murder, a charge denied by the ruling party. 

BJP members recently raised the issue of political violence in the state in Parliament, alleging that "Kerala has become a killing field". 

Earlier, Jaitely arrived in the state capital by a special aircraft for an on-the-spot account of the political situation. He was also likely to submit a report to the Central government, party sources said. 

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The Union minister's visit comes in the backdrop of RSS leadership even favouring imposition of President's Rule in the state on the ground that law and order situation had collapsed under the LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan. 

Jaitely is also slated to visit some of the BJP workers whose houses were attacked allegedly by CPM in recent days. Incidentally, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has convened an all- party meeting this evening to discuss the issue of increasing political violence. 

The state had been witnessing a cycle of violence involving BJP-RSS and CPM workers with the capital district rocked by incidents of attacks on houses of rival partymen.

• Arun Jaitely
• BJP
• CPM
• Thiruvananthapuram