Date:22/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/22/stories/2006112211420400.htm

Kerala

Congress sabotaged unity efforts: Natesan

Special Correspondent

He says Government's performance not up to desired level

SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) general secretary Vellappally Natesan has blamed the Congress for collapse in unity efforts between the SNDP and Nair Service Society (NSS).

Addressing a face-to-face programme organised by the Kesari Memorial Journalists Trust in connection with the Golden Jubilee of the State formation here on Tuesday, Mr. Natesan accused Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy and KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala of sabotaging the unity between NSS and SNDP. The NSS-SNDP platform was made to fight for social justice while retaining the basic differences of opinion between the two organisations. Instead of holding discussions to settle the differences, NSS backed out of the alliance, he said. Community organisations were a force to be reckoned with and no party can come to power without their support, he said.

Former Chief Minister A.K. Antony had to quit office since he made a statement against the minorities. Mr. Antony was crucified for speaking the truth. The forces which worked against the late R. Sankar had worked against Mr. Antony too.

On the performance of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government during the past six months, he said it had not risen up to the desired levels. But the SNDP Yogam would not review its support to the front, Mr. Natesan said.

He said the Yogam had the determination and confidence to take a specific stance to support the LDF and would not adopt equidistant or non-alignment policies. Six months was too short a period to judge the performance of a Government, but still the overall performance was not satisfactory. Asked whether it would support the LDF in the Thiruvambadi Assembly byelection, Mr. Natesan reiterated the Yogam did not chan ge its decision to support the LDF in the last Assembly election. Equidistant and non-alignment polices were being taken by those who lack the will and confidence, he said. The move to dissolve the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) was unjustified. Since the board members were the elected representatives of MLAs and Ministers, dissolution of the board would be unconstitutional. Instead of for ming the Malabar Devaswom Board, the Government should take action against those temple committees, which were not giving minimum wages to its employees.