The Hindu : Front Page : Only Left can fight communalism: IFDP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005

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Only Left can fight communalism: IFDP

Staff Reporter

Party snaps all ties with BJP and NDA

KOTTAYAM: The merger between the LDF partner Kerala Congress (Joseph) and the NDA member Indian Federal Democratic Party (IFDP) was formalised at a special function here on Monday.

Identifying communalism as one of the three major threats facing Indian democracy, former IFDP leader P. C. Thomas, MP, unequivocally stated that only the Left could fight it effectively.

"Communalism, corruption and extremism are the three major challenges facing democracy. We are convinced that only the Left can effectively face these challenges. As such we have severed all relations with the NDA and relations evolved with the BJP through the NDA completely. Joining the Kerala Congress being led by P. J. Joseph, we will strive together to strengthen the LDF," Mr. Thomas said in the Merger Resolution read out on the occasion.

He had always believed in the policy of `strong Centre and contented States' and had worked towards the comprehensive development of the State, Mr. Thomas said.

The political developments during the last one decade has shown that only a coalition of national and strong regional parties would be able to give proper leadership to the nation. The Kerala Congress, though one of the oldest regional parties in the country, remained weakened on account of repeated splits.

As such he felt it was time to strengthen the regional party and since Kerala Congress led by P. J. Joseph was the one officially recognised party and since he was impressed by their programmes and policies, he and his colleagues had decided to join the KC(Joseph) he said.

In his address, P. J. Joseph, chairman, KC(Joseph), said the Merger Resolution said it all and the statement was clear about the party's position on all issues. He reiterated his intention to fight corruption and said the merger was part of a major initiative in bringing together all like minded people who were concerned about the comprehensive development of the State and ready to fight against corruption. "However, this need not include all Kerala Congressmen in other factions" he said.

Francis George MP, K . C. Joseph, MLA, senior functionaries of both the parties and others spoke on the occasion.

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