Political violence: All-party meeting today; initiative crucial for peace
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Apart from drawing up a concrete plan to check political violence in the state, the all-party meeting convened by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday is likely to express its disapproval of the repeated threats being issued by BJP leaders to impose President’s rule. The main agenda of the meeting though is to create awareness among cadres against indulging in violence, ensure better coordination between party leaders from the state to local level, avoid provocative sloganeering and posters and mechanism at all levels for timely intervention to diffuse violent actions.
Coming as it is close on the heels of RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale warning of central intervention, the issue is likely to echo at the meeting. The non-BJP parties have already expressed strong reservations about the repeated threats of anti-democratic steps. The CPM leaders say they are going to all-party meeting with an open mind. “We are prepared to take all steps to ensure peace. We want to work sincerely for this cause and expect the same from other parties, said CPM state secretary Kodieyri Balakrishnan.
The party wants an end to the blame game being played on the issue. “The charges and counter charges, claims and counter claims are not going to help normalise the situation,” said a party leader. Congress which has accused the CPM and BJP of bringing a bad name to the state nationally because of their murder politics, will emphasise on peace initiative and accountability of those resorting to violence.
The Congress appears to be on the same page in criticising the BJP and RSS threat to remove a democratically elected government. The Congress leaders believe that an impression was being created across the country that RSS was victim of violence. They accused both the parties of adopting an eye for an eye policy. Both are equally responsible for the unabated violence in many parts of the state. While the BJP is cooperating with the all-party meeting, it has expressed strong reservations over the manner in which the police was acting partially. The BJP will urge the government to give a free hand to the police to check violence.
