KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode district Congress committee launched ‘Swastham Kozhikode’ on Saturday, in association with writers, activists and artists, promoting violence-free politics. It also kick-started a campaign against hartals in the district. DCC president T. Siddique said that the aim of the campaign was to incorporate the ideas of cultural leaders and join hands with them for the upliftment of the district. He added that sidelining those criminalising politics would be the first target, along with protecting ‘Kozhikode’ to bring back peace in the district.
AICC secretary P.C. Vishnunath inaugurated the campaign. He said that the public should prevent Kannur model of violence from spreading to Kozhikode. “The CPM has failed to to arrest the accused who attacked its district office and district secretary. How are they going to protest the public? The police should arrest the real culprits in the case to prevent further violence,” Mr Vishnunath said.
However, critic M.N. Karassery, who was also present at the function, asked the Congress pointedly, if it was bold enough to say no to hartals that put the lives of the common people in distress. The challenge was tactfully avoided by Mr Siddique who said that the CPM and the BJP should down their weapons to bring peace. The event was attended by MPs M.K. Raghavan, M.I. Shanavas, historian M.G.S. Narayanan, Padmashri Meenakshi Gurukkal and M.K. Muneer, MLA.
