Pinarayi Vijayan moots all-party drive to end violence

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday blamed the BJP and RSS for the bloodshed in Kannur, but exhorted all parties to put an end to the political violence in that district.
“Enmity is not a solution for ideological differences. All activists ological differences. All activists should shed vengeance and hatred“, he said in the assembly , while expressing willingness for talks.
The chief minister's willingness caught the Congress-led opposition unawares.They , however, wanted Vijayan to make his party leaders adopt the humane approach in Kannur, the chief minister's home district.
Urging all political leaders to join hands to end the violence, Vijayan said: “Everyone should understand that a solution cannot be found by killing each other. Instead, everyone should imbibe the values of humanity to end enmity''.
The chief minister went on to say that “our enemies today will become our brothers one day . If all of us have the same feeling, the enmity would peter out, changing the present situation“.
The usually tough-talking Vijayan added that political parties should stop viewing others through the prism of enmity and hatred.
“By shedding hatred and enmity , political workers should strive for the development of the region and state,“ he said, even as the opposition UDF members thumped the desks in approval.
Initially, the chief minister was unwilling to take the initiative for peace talks despite repeated requests from the opposition leader, Ramesh Chennithala, and former chief minister Oommen Chandy . Vijayan later agreed, but with a rider.
“The talks should initially be in Kannur and then if needed, we can have a state-level discussion with all political parties “, he added.
The chief minister, however, blamed the BJP and RSS leadership for triggering violence in Kannur. He said there was also an attempt to create an impression that Kannur has been a politically volatile district.
Raising the issue as a notice for adjournment motion former minister K C Joseph--also from Kannur--said earlier, the chief ministers used to hold peace talks each time there was a series of political murders in the district.
“This time Pinarayi Vijayan is not interested in convening the talks and he is shying away from the responsibility ,“ he said.
The CM responded, saying the government had taken all measures to bring in peace. “The police are impartial in Kannur and hence there are no complaints against the police,“ he added.
The UDF staged a walkout, protesting the speaker's refusal to suspend the proceedings for a discussion.
Rajagopal remains mum T'puram:
BJP MLA O Rajagopal remained silent even as chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan held the BJP and RSS responsible for Kannur bloodshed.
Turning down the speaker's invitation to speak first, he stayed in the House even as the opposition walked out. Rajagopal spoke after Ramesh Chennithala had announced the walkout.
He reminded the House of a treaty between EMS Namboodiripad and BJP years ago. The chief minister refuted the claim, but Rajagopal shot back saying Vijayan was not present and the late M V Raghavan was then the party secretary. Rajagopal, however, supported the chief minister's peace initiative.
Later, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan issued a statement, urging the chief minister to control his party cadres if he wanted peace.
“After this government had come to power, there were around 250 violent incidents in Kannur and CPM workers are accused in 80% of these cases,“ he said.