The Hindu : Kerala News : `Poll not a referendum on Government'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 26, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

`Poll not a referendum on Government'

By Our Staff Reporter

CHELAKKARA (THRISSUR), APRIL 25. Braving his laryngitis problem and fatigue, the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, continued his `Navodana Yatra' in Thrissur district creating excitement among the UDF workers and drawing good crowd at the different points where the receptions were planned.

Even though the excitement and strength of the crowd were not as demonstrative as was the case during the `Kerala Vimochana Yatra' which Mr. Antony had undertaken just before the last Assembly elections, the Congress leaders in the district were of the view that in the background of the extreme factionalism and lethargy prevailing among the party workers even this much mobilisation is an achievement.

Neglecting the advice of the doctors, who had examined him this morning, to take rest for 10 days, Mr. Antony attended all the nine receptions that were planned for the day starting from Chelakkara on the border of Thrissur and Palakkad districts and covering different points in Thrissur and the Ottappalam parliamentary constituency and at the Wadakkanchery Assembly segment, in spite of the burning heat. The day's yatra programme which started at about 10 a.m. was over with the reception at the historic Thekkinkadu Maidan at 9 p.m.

One of the points that he had repeated at every meeting was that the ensuing election was not a referendum on the State Government, because its only `agenda' is to ensure the assumption of power by secular forces at the Centre. The UDF Government would complete its full term and the LDF would have to wait till then to conduct referendum on this regime.

Attacking the BJP Government at the Centre, Mr Antony said, ``this Government is following the divide and rule policies of the British regime. They are trying to make people fight along religious and caste lines. This Government is dangerous to the unity and secular foundations of the country. The people are frustrated with the Government.''

``Under this Government, India's standing at the international level had suffered severe humiliation. Now with the disintegration of Soviet Union, the U.S. had assumed the role of the `sole global police' and was imposing its will on other nations. How many people are killed by them in Iraq every day? Similarly, with the U.S. patronage, Israel is killing thousands of people. But India is not able do anything against these cruel arbitrary acts of the U.S. and Israel. Would the country have remained such a mute spectator to such unjust acts had it been ruled by the Congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi,'' Mr. Antony asked. Emphasising that the UDF's objective was to hoist a democratic-secular Government under Sonia Gandhi at the Centre, Mr. Antony said the CPI(M) and the CPI were also saying that they too would support secular Government under Congress from outside. ``Now when there are UDF candidates in the fray who are going to be direct partners of such a Government why should the people vote for the CPI(M) or the CPI who will only be its indirect supporters?'' Antony asked.

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