Significant moment in Kerala politics: CPI(M) leaders visit murdered BJP worker's house

In a first, political parties have decided to hold talks with victims’ families, across party lines.
Significant moment in Kerala politics: CPI(M) leaders visit murdered BJP worker's house
Significant moment in Kerala politics: CPI(M) leaders visit murdered BJP worker's house
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The district administration in Kannur - infamous for political violence and killings - has launched a novel initiative to bring peace between warring political parties.

On Saturday, CPI(M) leaders from Kannur, under the leadership of district secretary P Jayarajan and MV Jayarajan, visited the house of Santhosh, a local leader of the BJP who was stabbed to death allegedly by CPI(M) workers.

The leaders went to Santosh’s residence in Andaloor near Dharmadam in Thalassery, and held talks with his wife and daughter for about 15 minutes.

This was a landmark moment in Kannur politics, where until now, such a peaceful initiative has been ungeard of.

Santhosh was killed on January 18 and five CPI (M) workers were arrested in the case.

During the meeting, the district leadership of CPI(M) also condemned its members who were involved in the violence, and denied any role of the party itself in the killings. By doing so, the party hopes that the police violence and murders will come down.

According to sources, the CPI(M) leadership, as well as that of BJP/RSS in Kannur, had lost their control over grassroot party workers, resulting in frequent violent political attacks in the last many years.

For several months, the Kerala Chief Minister and district administration under the leadership of District Collector Mir Muhammadali and the commissioner of police have been trying to bring peace in Kannur.

The administration had conducted a number of all party meetings and discussions to find a solution. Finally CPI(M), Congress and BJP proclaimed their support.

In the last all party meeting conducted in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in October 2015, it was decided that CPI(M) leaders would visit the house of political violence victims irrespective of which party they belonged to.

“It was one of the most effective decisions taken in the meeting lead by the Chief Minister that leaders representing all political parties should visit the victims’ homes. This would decrease the political rivalry among the workers of the party. We have also taken many other decisions aiming to wipe out political violence from the district,” Mir Muhammadali told The News Minute.

The district CPI(M) leadership has also said that the party will not support anyone indulging in violence.

“The decision was taken in an all party meeting called by the Chief Minister. All deaths are painful. Apart from consoling the family our intention is to bring peace in the district. Many of these murders are not political, there were several other factors. CPI(M) will not support anyone indulging in violence. CPI(M) is not a party with blood shed politics,” party leader MV Jayarajan told The News Minute.

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