India: Congress demands Kerala CM's resignation

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 30 (PTI) The Congress in Kerala on Monday demanded immediate resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after the Kerala High court ordered a CBI probe into the killing of two youth congress workers allegedly by CPI (M) activists in Kasaragod in Febuary this year.

Alleging that the LDF government had taken all steps to help the accused, Leader of the opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the chief minister should resign following the high court ordering CBI probe in the case.

"The chief minister cannot continue in office even for a moment," Chennithala told reporters.

KPCC president Mullapally Ramachandran also demanded that in the light of the verdict, Vijayan should step down.

BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai said the verdict was a slap on the CM's face and he should publicly apologise to the people.

The court had also set aside the charge sheet filed by the Crime branch wing of Kerala police which investigated the case and said the probe was "faulty."

Handing over the investigation to the CBI, the court held that "it was a political murder and was planned. The accused were leaders of political party."

The court order came on a petition by the parents of the two slain youths-- Sarath Lal and Kripesh-- as they were attacked while returning home after attending a function.