The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Oust CPI Ministers from Cabinet: UDF

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Thursday, Nov 22, 2007
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Oust CPI Ministers from Cabinet: UDF

Special Correspondent

For ‘forcefully’ securing release of AIYF activists

Mani says they are guilty of charges under IPC sections
Chennithala terms AIYF stir a farce

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders have sought stern action against Communist Party of India (CPI) Ministers C. Divakaran and K.P. Rajendran for what they termed their breach of oath of office by ‘forcefully’ securing the release of All India Youth Federation (AIYF) activists in the State capital on Tuesday.

At separate news conferences here on Wednesday, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala and Kerala Congress(M) leader K.M. Mani said the Ministers had lost the right to remain in office and urged Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan to drop the two from the Cabinet. They accused CPI State secretary Veliyam Bhargavan of having interfered with the due processes of law and said a senior leader like him should have observed restraint in such a situation.

Mr. Chennithala said the incident was proof for the ineptitude of the Home Minister and showed that Left Democratic Front (LDF) leaders considered themselves above law. The CPI State secretary and the two Ministers had intervened when the police were trying to remand an AIYF activist who had slapped a woman police officer. The people deserved an explanation from the Chief Minister and the Home Minister as to how the government viewed the incident, he added.

Mr. Mani said Mr. Bhargavan and the two Ministers were guilty of charges under Sections 333 and 452 of the Indian Penal Code, the former dealing with causing hurt to deter a public servant from performing his duty and the latter relating to trespass and assault. Both Mr. Chennithala and Mr. Mani said the AIYF agitation against retail chains across the State was a farce.

Palm oil import

The KPCC president termed insincere the government’s stand on import of palm oil and alleged that the Chief Minister was trying to the blame the Centre and the Courts to cover up the government’s failure to do anything to provide relief to coconut growers. He also came down heavily on the reported move of the Democratic Youth Federation of India to take on striking government doctors.

Mr. Chennithala demanded a judicial inquiry into the roles played by the Devaswom Minister and the president and members of the Travancore Devaswom Board in the award of contract for supply of ‘aravana’ at the Sabarimala temple.

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