Fear CPM, BJP jointly sending an 'Innova' to kill me: Varier

Kozhikode: Former BJP spokesperson and state committee member Sandeep Varier, who joined Congress on Saturday, called on IUML state president Panakkad Sadikali Shihab Thangal at his Panakkad residence on Sunday.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, which was attended by IUML brass including national general secretary PK Kunhalikutty, Varier said he had abandoned the political ideology of BJP forever after getting mentally fed up with working in a factory constantly producing hatred and division.

Varier said that going by the statements of CPM and BJP functionaries, he feared whether the two would send an ‘Innova' to eliminate him, referring to TP Chandrasekharan's killing wherein the assailants arrived in an Innova car. "What I fear now is whether CPM and BJP will jointly send an Innova to kill me. While it might be driven by MB Rajesh, it would be K Surendran who would have taken the quotation against me," he said.

Varier said that Palakkad assembly byelection was being conducted jointly by CPM and BJP. "They are levelling allegations, which are being produced in the same factory, against me. How can they do that like Siamese twins?" Varier asked.

The new Congress entrant hoped that his visit to the Panakkad residence would remove the misunderstandings among a section of people who were pained by his remarks made while advocating BJP's politics.

Varier lauded IUML for its role in maintaining religious harmony in society. The Kodappanakkal family had paved the foundation for the traditions of communal amity and harmony of Malappuram and the late IUML supremo Panakkad Mohemmedali Shihab Thangal was the first to reach Thali temple after the temple door had caught fire.

Sadikkali Thangal said it was heartening that Varier changed his earlier stands and had come over to the side of harmony.

Kunhalikutty said that Varier joining Congress has changed the narrative that BJP was the final refuge.