Congress' Ramesh Chennithala targets BJP: Politics of hate, violence will not succeed

Thiruvananthapuram: Targeting the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Kerala, Congress’ Ramesh Chennithala said on Wednesday that the results of the upcoming civic polls would be a verdict against “politics of violence and hate”. “Hate politics practised by BJP-RSS and politics of violence by CPI-M will get a fitting reply from people in the civic polls to be held on November 2 and 5,” Home Minister and former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President Ramesh Chennithala said at a meet-the-press programme in Thiruvananthapuram. [caption id=“attachment_1317681” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Image courtesy: Ibnlive[/caption] Fielding two CPI-M workers accused in a murder case as candidates for the polls clearly showed that the CPI-M encouraged violence and bomb culture, Chennithala alleged, describing that party as being the “apostle of violence”. “I would like to know the opinion of CPI-M veteran and state Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan in the matter,” Chennithala said, claiming that a severe electoral debacle was awaiting the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front (LED). Karayi Chanrashekharan and Karayi Rajan, both accused in the murder of Muhammad Fasal, a Popular Front of India activist, at Thalassery on 22 October, 2006, are candidates for Patyam division of Kannur District Panchayat. The two arrested by CBI were given bail by court on the condition that they should not leave Ernakulam district. Lambasting the BJP, the minister said, “the party’s effort to cobble a caste combination and divide people on the lines of religion for electoral benefits will not succeed. People of the state will defeat BJP president Amit Shah’s agenda of divisive politics.” On Ezhava community organisation Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) General Secretary Vellappally Natesan’s move to form a political party, Chennithala said, “political party based on religion and caste will not get acceptability among people.” However, about the growth of the Indian Union Muslim League, Chennithala said, “IUML always follows secular principles and it sees all citizens equally.” The IUML is a partner of the Congress-led ruling United Democratic Front (UDF). Chennithala also rejected CPI-M State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s charge that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has given tacit support for the SNDP-BJP alliance to corner LDF. “Chandy does not need any certificate of secularism from any person,” he said. On the controversy over the death of former head of Sivagiri Mutt, Swami Saswathikanada, Chennithala said the government has an open mind on the matter. “Let the people decide whether there is any conspiracy behind the resurfacing of allegation that Natesan has a role in Swami’s death,” Chennithala said. Kerala State Bar Hotel Owner’s Association working president Biju Ramesh had triggered a row with his charge last week that Swami’s death plotted by Natesan and his son Thushar. Natesan had rejected the charge on 10 October and had said he was ready to face any probe, including by CBI. On the possibility of a further probe into the charges, Chennithala said the Crime Branch had submitted the final report after a probe two years ago. A petition filed by Swami’s family members seeking CBI probe into the death was dismissed by the High Court, he pointed out. “Still government has open mind on the matter. Crime branch has been asked to examine whether there were any new revelations and further steps on the matter will be taken after getting the report. Government can go only as per law,” he said, adding, “government sees no politics on the matter.” Swami drowned in the Periyar river at Aluva on July 1, 2002. PTI