The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Pinarayi criticises Congress’ stance

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Tuesday, Dec 09, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Pinarayi criticises Congress’ stance

Special Correspondent

Says the Congress has failed to take an uncompromising attitude to communal forces
Alleges that the BJP is not genuine in its claim to work against terrorism

– Photo: S.G.

Honour: CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan hands over a painting to veteran journalist and former Rajya Sabha member K. Mohanan at a function organised by the Fraternity for Arts and Media Entertainment in the city on Monday.

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday criticised the Congress for its failure to adopt an uncompromising attitude to communal forces.

Inaugurating a seminar organised by the Fraternity for Arts and Media Entertainment (FRAME), he said the Congress leadership’s approach to communalism was often guided by vote bank compulsions.

He accused the RSS and the Sangh Parivar of trying to justify terrorist activities by Hindutva groups. “The Malegaon blast has proved that terrorists do not belong to one community alone. The BJP’s attempt to portray all terrorists as Muslims is aimed at diverting attention from Hindutva terror groups,” he said.

Flaying attempts to whip up public opinion for an attack on Pakistan, Mr. Vijayan said India should instead pressurise the democratically-elected government in that country to take firm action against terrorist organisations. “Pakistan society should be taken into confidence. If, however, Pakistan fails to crackdown on terror, India can approach the UN Security Council.”

Mr. Vijayan said an attack on Pakistan would only strengthen the hands of the Lashkar- e-Toiba and other terror groups and work out to their advantage. “Similarly, the demand to approach Israel and the U.S. for assistance in the war on terror is misguided. India will only become the priority target for terrorists if we embark on this move,” he said.

Mr.Vijayan said the BJP was not genuine in its claim to work against terrorism. “It was the only party that refused to sign a resolution adopted at an all-party meeting convened by the Prime Minister in the wake of the terror attack on Mumbai. It exposes the lack of sincerity in their approach.” He said the Mumbai incident had exposed the lack of coordination between various intelligence agencies in India.

Veteran journalist and former Rajya Sabha member K. Mohanan was honoured at the function. Mr. Vijayan described him as an honest, fearless journalist, an orator and a political activist who endeared himself even to his political opponents. Mr. Mohanan was presented with a shawl and his portrait.

CPI(M) district secretary Kadakampally Surendran presided over the function. Chairman of the Kerala Press Academy S.R. Sakthidharan and FRAME leader Pratheesh Vamadevan were present.

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