Kerala witnesses increase in political violence

The tall claim made by Kerala Chief Minister E.K. Nayanar that law and order in his state is better than in any Congress(I)-ruled state was proved hollow when as many as 11 political murders took place last month. In fact, there is a disturbing trend in the increase of political violence in Kerala.In 1979, there were 339 political clashes in the state, in which 33 people died. In 1980 political activists clashed 396 times, leaving 34 dead. This year, until the end of August, they had clashed 431 times, leaving 46 dead.Predictably, the state Opposition has pounced on the figures. The liaison committee of the Congress(I)-led opposition United Democratic Front declared that Kerala was on the brink of a "civil war" between the Marxists and the "democratic-minded" people of the state. K. Karunakaran, leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that the Government was encouraging killings and violence, the situation on the farm front was explosive, and that trouble was brewing on the trade union front. He affirmed on the eve of Onam that the Opposition would take out torchlight processions throughout the state on September 22 as part of the 'Save Kerala' campaign, and that mass dharnas would be organised before the "inefficient" police stations all over the state.Internal Warfare: While the Opposition gears itself for battle, the ruling United Front coalition government is torn by internecine battles, mostly over the spoils of office. Early in June the chairman and three of the six members of the state Public Service Commission retired, but the Front could not agree on how to share the spoils as there were only four vacancies against the six parties in the coalition. Nayanar: hollow claimsThe practical solution: two more vacancies were created, raising the strength of the Commission from seven to nine. Then there was another tussle for the chairman's post, which was finally awarded to the Congress(S), probably because it has lost everything including its name and flag.This kind of behaviour has earned the coalition considerable flak. Karunakaran charged in the state Assembly: "They are here only to fatten themselves at public cost. Even the first communist ministry of E. M. S. Namboodiripad was far better than this Government.There are more political murders now than during my term as home minister." Nayanar, however, is giving as good as he gets. He told India Today: "Karunakaran is a fool, he thinks we are going to give him the chief ministership on a platter. During the Emergency his regime was worse than Hitler's. People used to disappear into thin air in those brutal days."Tense Situation: That sharp retort is a little like the pot calling the kettle black. The Marxists have not lagged behind in the tactics of terror. In Vilangad, Nadapuram and Tiruvambadi in Calicut district, a savage confrontation has developed between the Marxist-controlled Centre Of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the farmers, one of whom, K. J. Mathew was brutally murdered recently. His son said: 'My father was a poor farmer who did not have any connection with the Karshaka Samrakshana Samithi (the farmers' organisation), but he was still murdered." Said another landlord: "In a democratic country like India, we are not free to employ our own workers to move the articles we buy from the markets either for agricultural purposes or for domestic consumption."The Government is adamant over the issue. Says state Home Minister T.K. Ramakrishnan: "The situation is being aggravated by these agriculturists in villages and merchants and traders in the urban areas, CITU has become the favourite whipping boy of these urban and rural capitalists. Our boys are only asking for their just share." He refuted strongly the Opposition allegation that law and order had deteriorated in the state: "What can we do when two neighbours fight each other and one of them is murdered? It may be a personal quarrel, but the Opposition calls it murder by a Marxist."Growing Break: But A.K. Antony, Congress(I) strongman and one of the kingpins of the ruling coalition, says: "The failure of the police in taking action against the law-breakers without considering their political affiliations has made many places in Calicut tension-ridden. Unless the home portfolio is taken away from the Marxists the present situation will continue." Karunakaran (left) and Antong: a ritical of govervment performanceAntony cannot pull his party out of the Front because that would weaken his position further, although most Congress(S) leaders feel that they are being "harassed" by the Marxists and forced, because of Antony, to continue in a "rudderless" government. Said former MP Vayalar Ravi: "Antony is the stumbling block; all the MLAs owe allegiance to him and none of them dare go against his wishes."The Marxists have already begun preparing for a possible Congress(S) pull-out. One replacement could be the Janata, whose party president Chandra Shekhar has already received feelers to that effect. But even as they try and shore up one crumbling wall, another is weakening: the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) has split because of differences between Baby John and Sreekantan Nair.Nair's claim that the rank and file of the party is with him is yet to be proved. Said Pankajshan, an RSP legislator: "The RSP in the state revolves around Baby John; even the opposition parties know that Nair is a spent force."The top-level squabbles have started filtering down to the lower levels. There have been a number of clashes involving Congress(S) and Marxist workers in different parts of the state. With the partners in the ruling coalition literally coming to blows, some political observers feel that it is only a matter of time before the rickety set-up crumbles to pieces.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 8, 2013 08:58 IST--- ENDS ---

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Kerala witnesses increase in political violence

The tall claim made by Kerala Chief Minister E.K. Nayanar that law and order in his state is better than in any Congress(I)-ruled state was proved hollow when as many as 11 political murders took place last month. In fact, there is a disturbing trend in the increase of political violence in Kerala.

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