By IANS,
New Delhi : Muslims in Kerala should start a movement to alienate elements trying to spread terror in the name of religion and maligning their community in the process, said state Congress party chief Ramesh Chennithala.
“There are only one or two people from the state engaging in terror-like activities in the state. It is the duty of the society to alienate such elements. Of course, the movement should start from within the Muslim society,” Chennithala told IANS here.
“The government should take strong measures to curb the elements trying to create divisions in society,” he said.
Chennithala’s call for an anti-terror movement comes in the wake of activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) activists being arrested in the state.
After the alleged Ahmedabad blasts mastermind Mufti Abdul Bashr’s arrest in August, the Gujarat police had said the SIMI activists behind the July 26 bombings were trained at Wagamon in Kottayam. Police in Kerala confirmed that the camp had been conducted in December.
Chennithala, meanwhile, lauded the efforts of many Muslim organisations that work for social welfare.
“Most of the Muslim organisations in the state are working for the welfare of the community and to strengthen the society,” the Congress leader said.
The state Congress chief came down heavily on the “misrule” of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala.
“The (chief minister) V.S. Achuthanandan ministry is interested only in corruption and controversy,” he alleged.
“There are no developmental activities taking place in the state. No foreign investments. Prices of essential commodities are shooting up, charges of electricity and water have increased and the bus fares are unbearable. The people are fed up with the government,” said Chennithala, who has completed three years as president of KPCC (Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee).
He said that the forthcoming general election would be a litmus test for the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led government. “Their performance would be measured by the people,” he said.
“The CPI-M is amassing wealth in the shadow of administration in Kannur and some other districts,” he alleged.
Chennithala said that “winnability” would be the main criteria while selecting candidates for the polls.
He said that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) would not be expanded before the elections and that the demands of all member parties would be met during the seat-sharing procedure.