: Minister for Home Ramesh Chennithala has appealed to Naxalites in the State to return to the mainstream democratic polity.
Inaugurating the 97th birth anniversary of the late Congress leader K. Karunakaran at Indira Bhavan, headqyarters of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Mr. Chennithala said the government was ready to hold discussions to address the issues they had raised. The government was working towards the same objective of uplift of tribals and other weaker sections of society. But for Karunakaran, who had dealt with Naxalites with a heavy hand, Kerala would have been a fertile ground for Naxalism, Mr. Chennithala said. He belonged to the rare breed of political leaders who had left their indelible mark in every aspect of Kerala life.
In his presidential address, KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran said the CPI(M)’s blind anti-Congress stand was aiding the growth of the Bharatiya Janata Party and other communal forces. He urged party workers not to rest on their laurels after the Aruvikkara by-poll win.
Organisational issues
In his address, K. Muraleedharan, Karunakaran’s son, wanted the party leadership to energise the organisational apparatus at a time when the ruling coalition had better chances of making a bid to retain power. He said Karunakaran was successful in cutting the root of the Naxalite movement because he was an able administrator and a visionary. He was tolerant towards criticism, but was confident about his abilities. He added that it was unfortunate that the State had not succeeded in naming the Kochi International Airport after Karunakaran, who was instrumental in implementing it.
He said the Congress workers should not become overconfident by the Aruvikkara win. It was natural to concentrate all efforts in a by-election.
But to recapture power, extra efforts, based on positive politics, was required, Mr. Muraleedharan said.
