RSS worker facing murder case places turban on Rajnath Singh’s head

RSS worker T Santhosh approached Singh who was about to get into a car after visiting Padmanabhaswamy temple here and placed the turban Singh’s head.

BJP spokesman V V Rajesh, who was present on the occasion, said Santhosh is an RSS leader in charge of that region. ‘He came with a turban to be presented to the minister, who, in turn, gave the consent. It all lasted only for three minutes. We are all familiar with Santhosh. The party cannot keep Santhosh away from the function on the ground that he was facing a murder case,’ said Rajesh.

BJP state president V Muraleedharan said there was nothing unusual in Santhosh presenting a turban to the union minister. “This is not a serious issue. He was not convicted and until the outcome of the final appeal in the Supreme Court, we cannot say he is a murder. The party does not think that a probe into the issue is necessary.”

The BJP state president said several CPI (M) leaders, including politburo members Pinarayi Vijayan and Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, have faced murder charges. They all had shared dais with various ministers earlier. Former chief minister E K Nayanar used to boast about his involvement in the death of a policeman during an agitation,’’ said Muraleedharan.

Home Minister Chennithala said there was no security lapse on the part of Kerala police. The NSG was in charge of the security of the minister. The RSS leader placed the turban on the minister’s head because the latter had allowed that act. It was up to the minister (Singh) to decide who should place the turban on his head,’’ said Chennithala.

CPI (M) legislator V Shivankutty said Santhosh is the first accused in the murder of young CPI (M) activist Vishnu in 2008. BJP has allowed the ‘murderer’ to place the turban on the minister’s heard. The incident showed any murderer could get near a union minister when the BJP is in power.