Is Senkumar set to join BJP? Party leaders welcome him

Kochi/Kottayam: The BJP Monday endorsed the state former police chief T P Senkumar's recent remarks against Love Jihad and Islamic State, in what is being seen as the saffron party's bid to woo him to its fold.

Endorsing Senkumar's reported remarks to online publication, Samakalika Malayalam, that the Muslims still practise "love jihad," BJP's state president Kummanam Rajasekharan demanded a probe into the "revelations" by Senkumar.

Responding to queries by the media here on whether the BJP planned to invite Senkumar into its fold, Rajasekharan said the party welcomed those who agreed to its policies and programmes.

Agreeing with the reported remarks by Senkumar against Love Jihad and terrorism, Rajasekharan said the revelations of the ex-DGP, who had a long stint in the state police force, could not be neglected.

"All those issues should be investigated," Rajasekharan told reporters in Kottayam.

Hours after Rajasekharan made the statement extending a welcome to Senkumar to the BJP, party general secretary M T Ramesh visited the former DGP at his in Thiruvananthapuram.

Ramesh said it was a courtesy call and the meeting was not meant for inviting ex-police chief to join the BJP.

"There was no political discussion. We had a friendly discussion. We enquired about his statement as we wanted to know further about it," Ramesh told reporters here.

Senkumar, however, did not speak about the meeting.

The Congress, meanwhile, hit out at Senkumar for his alleged anti-Muslim remarks.

"Senkumar should not become an instrument in the hands of Sangh outfits," said Kerala assemblys Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said.

KPCC chief M M Hassan termed as "unfortunate" the reported remarks of Senkumar.

Senkumar, who won a historic legal battle against the CPI(M)-led Kerala government over his removal as the state DGP, had retired from service on June 30.

The LDF government headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had removed Senkumar from the post of DGP soon after it came to power in May 2016.

Senkumar had moved the Supreme Court against the orders of the Kerala High Court and Central Administrative Tribunal, which had upheld the governments decision to transfer him.

The apex court had, however, directed the state government to reinstate Senkumar as DGP on April 29, stating that the officer was transferred by the government "unfairly" and "arbitrarily".