KOZHIKODE: How to free Nadapuram from the clutches of communal violence? This was the question the three candidates in the constituency faced at a ‘meet-the-candidates’ programme held at press club on Saturday. Sitting MLA and LDF candidate E.K. Vijayan said that only a small group of people was engaged in anti-social activities which led to violence.
“All major political parties have publicly disowned and flayed the violent incidents. But unfortunate things are happening,” he said. The MLA accused the police of lethargy during the Thuneri incident in early 2015 and its aftermath. “No order was given to the police to contain the aftermath of violence. Cops were in a hapless condition,” he alleged.
UDF candidate K. Praveen Kumar accused the CPM of abetting violence in Nadapuram. “The CPM workers are making bombs and their leadership is preaching peace,” he pointed out. NDA candidate M.P. Rajan alleged that the CPM and IUML sit together and decide to withdraw cases against each other. “Former MLA Binoy Vishwam had chaired a meeting to withdraw 500 cases in this regard,” he alleged.
But E.K. Vijayan refuted the allegation and said that an MLA cannot withdraw criminal cases. He explained that DYFI worker Shibin’s murder in Thuneri had created victims both in the Congress and the CPM.
Praveen Kumar said that UDF was soliciting votes for peace, friendliness and development. “An IT park with the cooperation of expats and a hi-tech agriculture park were our promises. If peace prevails, Nadapuram could be brought on the development map,” he exuded confidence.
Mr Vijayan said that he had given thrust to education, health and building up of infrastructure during his tenure. “Rs 250 crore had been spent for development activities during the last five years,” he said. Mr Rajan said that unbridled quarrying had made the region a desert and that the people were bearing the brunt.
