Oppn. making political capital out of violence: CM

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 6. The Chief Minister, Mr. E.K. Nayanar, has alleged that some Opposition leaders and newspapers were trying to make political capital out of the violence in Kannur.

"The Opposition and the press are portraying that the incidents have occurred on account of the Government's failure, and are thus trying to encourage the perpetuators of violence," the Chief Minister said in a statement released from his office here today.

Mr. Nayanar, who is touring Malaysia now, said the Opposition was campaigning that the administration would be non-functional if the Chief Minister is abroad. However, this was far from true. The portfolios under the Chief Minister, including Home, had been entrusted to the Minister for Fisheries and Culture, Mr. T.K. Ramakrishnan, who had visited Kannur and taken stock of the situation there. Strong measures taken by the Government had started showing results. Senior police officials were camping in the district and sufficient number of police had been deployed there. The DGP had been asked to visit the district and take necessary steps. The Collector was trying to bring about peace by convening meetings of political parties.

Mr. Nayanar urged all to cooperate in restoring peace in the district. Political parties should take the lead in ending violence. When incidents like these occurred, joint efforts by all were called for. However, the Congress(I) leader, Mr. A. K. Antony's demand that the Army should be called in to restore peace, and statements on similar lines by the BJP, showed that they were trying to make political capital out of the tragic incidents.

The Chief Minister recalled that he had convened an all-party meeting to end the political clashes in Kannur some time ago. Following this, peace could be restored there. Arrangements had been made to settle isolated problems through a mechanism headed by the Collector. However, violence had erupted again on account of the murderous attack on the CPI(M) district secretary, Mr. E.P. Jayarajan. The attack was part of a conspiracy by some who did not wish peace to be restored in Kannur.

Referring to the Congress(I) leader, Mr. K. Karunakaran's claim that he had restored order when Chalai market in Thiruvananthapuram burned in 1982 by calling in the Army, the Chief Minister said Mr. Karunakaran was challenging people's memory. The market burned because Mr. Karunakaran had restrained police to appease communal forces. When the matter went out of his hands, the Army had to be called in. But peace could not be achieved using the Army alone. Violence had to be put down with the cooperation of the people. That was what the LDF Government had been doing. While communal clashes spread to Poonthura and Vizhinjam during UDF rule, no communal clash had occurred during the four and half years of LDF rule.

Referring to criticism about his leaving on a foreign tour, Mr. Nayanar said the Cabinet had decided on the tour considering the advice of doctors and in view of some scheduled official programmes. The tour, initially planned for November, was advanced in view of the liquor tragedy. The official discussions were in the interests of the State.

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