The Hindu : Kerala News : `I' group will fight communal forces'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 08, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

`I' group will fight communal forces'

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 7 . The `I' group in the Congress will work for a secular, socialist and democratic platform against communal forces that are rearing their heads in Kerala, M.P. Gangadharan, MLA and a prominent Karunakaran supporter, has said.

In an article released for publication today, Mr. Gangadharan said that the Congress would perform its historical task by bringing together all secular forces.

He maintained that the `I' group continued to be relevant in Kerala politics because it did not revolve around an individual or a family.

Those who failed to see the veteran leader, K. Karunakaran's popular support were suffering from political blindness, he said.

He said that those in seats of power were appeasing caste and communal forces and destroying the basic structure of a secular democratic society.

The State administration had become a mere agency protecting the interests of those who pushed for privatisation, liberal liquor and environmentally destructive policies.

Murali criticised

The third group in the Congress accused the suspended Congress leader K. Muraleedharan of misinterpreting the CWC member, A.K. Antony's statement on unity in the party.

In a statement today, the former KPCC general secretary and prominent member of the third group, Joseph Vazhakkan, said that Mr. Muraleedharan, while demanding a probe into Mr. Antony's statement that certain Congress leaders had worked towards the defeat of party candidates in the Lok Sabha elections, had conveniently ignored Mr. Antony's warning against those who had constantly violated party discipline, turned against the high command and were trying to forge an alliance with the CPI(M).

It had become an agency protecting hawala racketeers and the rich and the powerful, he said.

The State Government had failed to address the growth of communal forces, commercialisation of the education sector, stagnation in the agriculture sector, farmers' suicides and mounting unemployment.

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