The Hindu : 'Antony trying to evade crucial issues'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 25, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

'Antony trying to evade crucial issues'

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Sept. 24. The senior Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, today alleged that the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, was evading crucial issues that he had raised by hanging on to a colloquial usage in his statement on the eve of the Ernakulam by-election.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Karunakaran denied that he had called Mr. Antony names and used "indecent" language in his pre-election reaction. He said that he never ever had used such language as had been reported in his long political career and would not ever do so in future.

``I do not have much education. And my experience has taught me that there is nothing in wrong in resorting to local usage (to make a point),'' he observed. He said that the Chief Minister was trying to evade issues, which he dare not deny, and instead was taking cover under false statements attributed to him.

In reply to a question, he said that he had made it clear to the party high command that he had his reservations about the selection of M.O. John as the Congress candidate and his inability to campaign for him. He denied that he had worked against the Congress candidate in the by-election.

Mr. Karunakaran made it clear that an ideological divide existed in the Congress party. For a person who has consistently opposed the Left parties, he said it was time now to think seriously about this position. "Those who are unable to fully encompass the process of change are known as reactionaries and those who can do so are known as revolutionaries," he said in an oblique reference to the areas of agreement he had with the Left parties.

He said that there was nothing wrong in seeking a Left alliance, as it was in tune with the Congress party's all-India perspective. Asked about the CPI(M) leader, Pinarayi Vijayan's charge that the official machinery had been misused in the election, Mr. Karunakaran said that he had taken note of the complaint.

Mr. Karunakaran said he would not hesitate to extend full protection to his supporters if they were to be persecuted in the aftermath of the election. He refused to speculate on the outcome of the election and said that he was would comment on the future course of political developments in Kerala only after the Ernakulam results were out on September 29.

He dismissed the statements of senior Congress leaders criticising the KPCC president, K Muraleedharan. Congress leaders such as Oommen Chandy and Antony had praised Mr. Muraleedharan to the skies, depicting him as one of the best KPCC president to adorn the office. No one can undermine the position of a leader who had links with the party rank and file, he observed.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Spiritual strength is above all: Advani

GO on fee structure for medical colleges stayed

'Inter-faith network' to be formed

Criticism of KSSP may kick up a row

KSSP refutes Balanandan's charge

Protest against blocking of Yahoogroups

BPL to launch cellular phones

Appeal against ruling in Jayakrishnan case

'Antony trying to evade crucial issues'

Sick unit revival fund proposed