The Hindu : CPI(M) not for immediate return of Marad mosque

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 13, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

CPI(M) not for immediate return of Marad mosque

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM June 12. The CPI(M) State secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, has said that the CPI(M) does not hold the view that the Marad mosque, from where blood-stained weapons were recovered after the May 2 killings, should be immediately handed over to the Wakf Board.

``It's for the Government to take a considered position on whether or not to hand over the mosque to the Wakf Board. The CPI(M) does not approve of places of worship being turned into arms dumps. Marad mosque was not the first place of worship to be used for such purposes. The Muslim League had earlier used the Cherumoth mosque in Nadapuram and the mosque at Kuttiyadi for similar purposes and the CPI(M) had always opposed it,'' Mr. Vijayan said in response to questions at a `Meet-the-Press' programme organised by the Kesari Memorial Journalists' Trust here today.

Mr. Vijayan hoped that the Muslim League would take a sterner stand on the question of communal extremism in the light of the happenings at Marad.

The CPI(M) was not of the view that the Muslim League was entirely responsible for the Marad violence. The mistake that it had committed was to pamper the NDF and the PDP at the time of the last elections and later.

The CPI(M) criticism of the IUML on this count appeared to have had a salutary effect as evidenced by the campaign that it had launched against communal extremism, the CPI(M) leader pointed out.

No factionalism in CPI(M)

Mr. Vijayan termed the happenings in the Karunagappally area committee of the party in recent weeks as a fallout of anti-party activities engineered by persons who had been thrown out of the party.

Though traces of factionalism of old could be seen in the developments, it was mostly the result of steps taken by the party to discipline some errant partymen. The CPI(M) State secretary said the party's attempt all along was to keep persons who deviate from the party line within the party fold and correct them. It did try the same with leaders in Kollam, but in vain.

On the divisions within various LDF constituents, Mr. Vijayan said though these were unhappy developments, they would not affect the Opposition alliance.

CM's `mission' flayed

Referring to the Chief Minister, A. K. Antony's claim that he was on a `mission' to change the fortunes of the State, Mr. Vijayan said it was indeed so if what Mr. Antony meant to say was that he was on a mission to undo all that the State had achieved over the years.

He cited the plight of the cashew workers and traditional industries such as coir and handloom to buttress his argument that the Antony Government had done precious little to help these ailing industries.

Mr. Vijayan also accused the Government of having surrendered the education sector to private interests and adopted repressive measures against Opposition activists who had opposed its policies.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Kerala Govt. takes over KC(J) office

Sudheeran rejects move to set up panel

Monsoon yet to pick up in southern Kerala

All-India medical allotment

`MBBS graduates must serve in State for 2 years'

UDF set to bury Thamarakshan panel report

64 cashew workers arrested

Entry tax revised

CPI(M) not for immediate return of Marad mosque

UDF defers decision on Rent Control Bill