Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram   

Mahatma's kin takes Cong. to task

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Oct. 6. Saraswathy K.Gandhi, grand daughter-in-law of Mahatma Gandhi, has expressed grave concern over the prevailing political and social situation in Kerala.

She reacted sharply to the political developments in the State in general and within the Congress organisation in particular, at a press conference held at her residence in the city today.

She lamented the loss of Gandhian values in society and called upon freedom fighters to come forward and take the initiative to resolve the crisis within the Congress.

However, she observed that it was high time `superannuated leaders' left the political arena, paving the way for the younger generation. Congress leaders of the day were after power, grossly neglecting the welfare and well-being of the masses, Ms.Gandhi alleged.

Launching a scathing attack on the senior Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, she observed that he had only a single point agenda, of elevating his son and daughter to the heights of power at the national and State levels.

She was of the opinion that Mr.Karunakaran had exceeded all limits of party discipline and said she would soon write to the Congress president seeking action against him in this regard.

Even as the freedom fighters, who had made great sacrifices for the country, were forced to live in penury, Mr.Karunakaran was enjoying all the good things in life.

If he had any regard for the Mahatma, this would not have been his lifestyle or style of functioning. Of late, his moves have been towards joining hands with those who had shunned the Quit India movement and who had no regard for the freedom struggle. All this was in the pursuit of power, Ms.Gandhi maintained.

Mr.Karunakaran had even made use of the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi, last week, to ridicule the Congress, she said.

On the issue of the alleged desecration of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Gandhi Park, Mr.Karunakarn had not even bothered to react, she said.

Ms.Gandhi wanted a Gandhian code of conduct to be made applicable to all leaders and ordinary workers of the Congress party.

She also accused K.Muralidharan of trying to sabotage the peace initiatives in Marad. "It will be advisable for the KPCC president, Mr. Muraleedharan, who had the audacity to insult the Gandhi Peace Foundation's attempts at restoring normalcy in Marad, to learn the history of the Congress movement,'' she suggested.

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