The Hindu : Kerala News : Congress infighting hits State's development: Kunhalikutty

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 19, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Congress infighting hits State's development: Kunhalikutty

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 18 . The Indian Union Muslim League State secretary and Industries Minister, P.K. Kunhalikutty, said here today that the opportunistic stand adopted by so-called secular and regional parties was one of the main stumbling blocks that hampered the formation of a secular front under the leadership of the Congress party.

Participating in `People's Verdict 2004' a programme organised by the Kesari Memorial Trust, Mr. Kunhalikutty said that the anti-Congress attitude of some of the regional parties, which did not mind abandoning their secular platform, also came in the way of forging a secular front. Replying to a question, Mr. Kunhalikutty said that he disagreed with the view that economic reforms contributed to the non-formation of such a front. "Reforms are a global phenomenon. In India, all States ruled by different political parties had benefited from the economic reforms programme," he opined.

He said that in Kerala, both the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) were claimants to the secular platform. Given the political development in the last few years, the Congress was the only party that could provide an alternative Government at the Centre, according to him. The tryst with the Third Front could not achieve stability. Several secular parties that promoted the Third Front later crossed over to the BJP-led alliance. As far as Kerala was concerned, the issue before the electorate was whether the Congress should be equipped to get the numbers to form a non-NDA Government. He said that the performance of the Antony Government would figure as an electoral issue. He asserted that the UDF Government had presented a good Government during the first two years of its rule. The situation would have been drastically different had the Government not been caught in a maze of problems, some of which were not within its control. These roadblocks, some of them spontaneous and others pre-meditated, had slowed down the pace of development initiatives under the UDF Government, he said.

When asked to clarify this statement, Mr. Kunhalikutty identified Marad issue as one of the events that did not come under the Government's control and was not of the making of any political party. He said that the infighting in the Congress had also played its part. According to him, a series of unnecessary agitations, which were directionless in purpose, negated the conducive investment climate created by the Global Investor Meet.

The Minister said that the IUML had always adopted a positive stance, seeking to arrive at a compromise. The party had never tried to exploit any situation for political gains. It had worked towards bringing the warring factions in the Congress towards the path of unity. Mr. Kunhalikutty disagreed with the view that the CPI(M) was an outdated party. He said that he was willing to state that the party had failed to draft its policies and perspectives in tune with the changing times. He extolled the secular positions taken by the CPI(M) and the progressive positions it had always taken on issues such as social reforms. However, he disagreed with the party's stand on economic issues. He said that it was for the CPI(M) leadership in Kerala to explain why the party was taking a dual position regarding economic reforms in West Bengal and Kerala. "What prevents the party from allowing the same privileges to its Kerala unit," he asked and pointed out that the Kerala Government had always been searching for a consensus on economic development. In reply to a question on what role the IUML expected to play at the Centre, Mr. Kunhalikutty said that his party's positions were becoming more attractive in the current political situation prevailing in the country. The very fact that the CPI(M) and the Left parties were willing to accept the IUML as an ally in other States is evidence enough that it could not be left out of any secular formulation.

When asked about the role of social organisations in the political process, Mr. Kunhalikutty said that the role played by various social organisations, including those working among the Muslim community, were as important as the one played by political parties. These social organisations have a long history in terms of social reforms and progress. They had made noteworthy contributions towards eliminating social imbalance. Therefore there is nothing wrong in respecting opinions expressed by these organisations in the larger interests of their community, he maintained.

In reply to a question on the Narendran Commission report, the IUML leader said that his party was of the view that it should be implemented after discussions with all sections. It has been agreed that the issue should be resolved amicably after taking all sections into confidence. After the elections, this issue would be taken up for discussions, he added.

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