Senior Congress leader A.K. Antony has said that the unprecedented importance being given by the BJP to the Assembly election betrays its suspected secret agenda.
Speaking at a meet-the-press programme organised by the Press Club here on Monday, Mr. Antony said the BJP’s plan was not to safeguard the State’s interests but to create trouble and added that the party had already tried to polarise society on issues such as beef ban.
Maintaining that the BJP wanted to instigate communal polarisation in the State, he said the party would not open its account in the Assembly.
“The BJP wants a Congress-free India. The attack on the Nehru family as well as moves to topple the Congress-led UDF government in the State are indicative of the plan. The Congress’ main political rival is the BJP,” he noted.
On liquor policy, the Congress leader wanted the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to make clear whether it would, if it came to power, re-open closed bars or effect the time-bound closure of liquor outlets as proposed in the UDF government’s liquor policy. “Going by the statements of LDF leaders and the ambiguity in the front’s manifesto, the UDF government’s liquor policy will be reversed if the LDF is voted to power,” he said.
On the electoral prospects of the UDF, Mr. Antony said it would be a tight race. “Now, both the UDF and the LDF are in a neck-and-neck fight, as the first round of the campaign has come to an end,” he said, exuding confidence that the UDF would have an edge at the finishing stage of the campaign.
He also said that law and order in the State had collapsed whenever the LDF was in power.
‘Uphold secularism’
Staff Reporter adds from Kasaragod: Addressing a UDF election meeting in Kasaragod on Sunday, Mr. Antony said Kerala’s “secular mindset” could not be altered and urged the electorate to defeat the designs of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to garner votes by creating a communal divide.
Mr. Antony said Malayalis were known worldwide for their compassion and acts of tolerance and this image should not be blemished by succumbing to the designs of the BJP. The Oommen Chandy government had given top priority to initiating a series of development and welfare schemes during the last five years. The coming election provided a big opportunity to decide whether voters should vote for a “pro-active” UDF or the LDF. He said the LDF was pre-occupied with stagnating development initiatives and was indulging in character assassination.
The AICC working committee member, who was here to kick-start a State-wide UDF campaign from North Kerala also addressed election meetings at Periye and Kanhangad.
BJP’s plan is not to protect State’s interests but to create trouble, says senior Cong. leader
