In a serious revelation, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Assembly on Monday that there was an attempt to create communal riots in the state in Manjeswaram of Kasargode district.
"It has been found that there was such a move. This is part of the attempt to destroy communal harmony in the society. Those who benefited from communal tensions in other parts of the country are making an attempt here too. Some attempts have come to our notice. The police have been acting with caution, but the cooperation of the people is also needed. The people, along with the police, should be vigilant of such attempts," he said.
The government has taken stern action against those who fomented violence in the cover of hartals and won’t step back, Pinarayi said.
"Frequent hartals should be avoided. The government is ready to hold an all-party meeting in this regard. Those who have called for hartals haven’t been part of the development of the state. They don’t want Kerala to move ahead but to take the state back. They taint the image of the state by calling for hartal for petty things. There is a public emotion against the frequent hartals," the CM said.
He was speaking during Question Hour in the Assembly.
Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala said that the sudden hartals called for by political parties have been causing trouble to the people. "Will the government be ready to bring in a legislation to rein in hartals? Will the chief minister be ready for it?” he asked. “First, let there be a discussion outside the House on it and see if consensus can be reached. The decision on it can be taken after that,” the CM responded.
13,362 houses to be rebuilt in the state
The CM, while replying to questions of Opposition legislators VD Satheesan, Roji M John, PT Thomas and Anil Akkara, said that as many as 13,361 houses have been completely destroyed in the floods. Of these, construction of 9,431 houses has begun with distribution of the first instalment of financial assistance. For the partially destroyed houses, assistance is being given by dividing into four categories. A total of 1,21,265 families are getting benefits from this. The distribution of assistance to them will be completed by February 15.