The Hindu : Front Page : KPCC for `unanimity' on Narendran panel report

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 04, 2006

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Front Page

KPCC for `unanimity' on Narendran panel report

Special Correspondent

Special Correspondent

kochi: The KPCC executive meeting held here on Tuesday decided to ask the UDF Government to find a `unanimous view' on the Narendran Commission report after consulting `all parties concerned' and to implement the recommendations `without much delay.' This was necessary to keep the UDF's commitment to social justice.

Talking to reporters, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala indicated that a compromise formula was being worked out, but would not reveal it. "Please don't press me on this," he pleaded with the mediapersons who sought details of the formula. "I am fairly confident that a compromise formula can be thrashed out."

The UDF was committed to protecting the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the Backward Classes, he asserted.

Mr. Chennithala wondered why the CPI(M), which `tomtommed its commitment to social justice' kept mum on the Narendran Commission all these years. He said the Narendran report had been a much-debated socio-political issue in the State, but the CPI(M) had chosen to keep silent. This amounted to duping the public, he said. He challenged the CPI(M) leaders to make the party stand public, particularly at a time when its leaders were now taking out a march to press for `social justice and all-round' development.

He alleged that the CPI(M), after `blocking development in every way it could over the past four-and-a-half years,' had now woken up to the `need for development.' This, according to him, was with an eye on the ballot box.

On the question of `non-brahmin priests ` for temples, the Congress is for continuing with the `present system' of worship at Kerala's temples, he said.

"We want status quo to continue at the temples," Mr. Chennithala said . "The Nair Service Society's suggestion that only Brahmins should be appointed as `shaanthis' (temple priests) reflects its own view."

His party was `very clear' about the issue, Mr. Chennithala said even as he took care not to mention the SNDP, which has come out strongly against the NSS stand.

Mr. Chennithala came down heavily on the CPI(M)'s `double standards' over accepting loans from the Asian Development Bank. The five municipal corporations in the State, all run by the LDF, were in the process of accepting loans for infrastructure development after agreeing to all conditionalities of the ADB, he said. The same set of conditionalities was vigorously opposed by the CPI(M) when the UDF Government wanted to borrow money from the ADB a few years ago.

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