The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : KPCC issues notice to Shoukat

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KPCC issues notice to Shoukat

Special Correspondent

— Photo: S. Gopakumar

SORTING OUT ISSUES: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala addressing a meeting of the KPCC in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Friday decided to serve show-cause notice on Shoukat Aryadan, DCC member and son of senior Congress leader Aryadan Mohammed, for his adverse remarks on the Indian Union Muslim League leader Panakkad Syed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal.

Addressing a press conference here at the end of a joint meeting of office-bearers of the party, Legislature Party and the District Congress Committee presidents, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala said Mr. Shoukat had been asked to give his reply within 14 days. Steps would be taken to resolve the issues between Mr. Aryadan Mohammed and the IUML as early as possible. He said he had viewed the cassette containing Shoukat’s controversial statement and was convinced that he had overstepped his brief to criticise Mr. Thangal without any provocation.

It was the responsibility of the Congress leadership to ensure that the UDF coalition did not suffer any damage. The Congress, which was at the helm in the UDF, had the primary responsibility of protecting the coalition partners and carry them along unitedly, Mr. Chennithala said.

He said Mr. Thangal was not just the leader of the IUML, but a highly respected personality. The relationship between his family and the Congress dates back to more than 40 years and he had maintained close ties with Congress leaders from Indira Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi. Mr. Thangal’s contribution to Kerala society would always be remembered. The Congress party valued his contributions to communal amity and peace and to strengthening democratic forces in the State, he said.

Asked about the logic in taking action against Mr. Shoukat, instead of Mr. Aryadan, Mr. Chennithala said Mr. Aryadan had not made any allegations against Mr. Thangal. The KPCC decided to take action against Mr. Shoukat because it did not agree to his position. In reply to another question, Mr. Chennithala said the Congress wanted to emphasise on the coalition dharma of fostering mutual trust and confidence among its partners.

Protest

The KPCC meeting also protested against the “unilateral” decisions and reforms being initiated by Education Minister M.A. Baby. The general and higher education sectors had plunged into confusion as a result of this. The Minister had made the students guinea pigs through his dubious reforms, whether it was revising the Kerala Education Rules, the single-window system in Plus One admissions or the self-financing professional sector, he alleged.

The KPCC decided to conduct Popular Education Conventions in all the districts in June to highlight the issue.

The KPCC also protested against the police action on Youth Congress workers who demonstrated against the delay in implementing the food security programme. It doubted the ability of the LDF government that had lost its collective responsibility to implement the programme.

With regard to accommodating K. Karunakaran’s supporters, Mr. Chennithala said the issue would be settled within a few days.

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