V M Sudheeran hits out at SNDP chief

Kochi: Ahead of his politically significant 'Kerala Jana Raksha Yatra', KPCC chief V M Sudheeran Sunday sharpened his attack againt Vellappally Natesan, saying the new political party formed by the SNDP Yogam general secretary "is part of RSS agenda".

Accusing Natesan of "spitting communal venom", Sudheeran said, "Bharat Dharma Janasena, the political party announced by Natesan, at the end of his RSS sponsored 'Samathwa Munnetta Yatra' will not flourish in secular soil of politically conscious state like Kerala."

"His political party is part of RSS agenda," Sudheeran said in an article sent to media ahead of his yatra.

In his article, he recalled Natesan's speech during the yatra in which he had accused the Oommen Chandy government of communal bias in extending financial assistance to the family of one Noushad, an autorickshaw driver who died while trying to save two migrant workers trapped in a manhole at Kozhikode.

"His aim was to inflame communal passion in the state," the Congress chief, who had engaged in a war of words with Natesan during his state-wide yatra last month, said.

The attack against Natesan ahead of his yatra is significant in view of the efforts by the leadership of state BJP and Natesan to reach out to various Hindu organisations ahead of Assembly polls due early this year.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate Sudheeran's over a month-long yatra at Kumbala in Kasargod district tomorrow to give a push and rejuvenate Congress cadres and also the partners of the party-led UDF before the polls.

"Secular Kerala" is one of the main highlights of the yatra which would also see the propagation of works undertaken by the Congress-led UDF government on various issues, including new liquor policy.

Besides these, the yatra would also highlight the "politics of violence" allegedly instigated by CPI(M), particularly in north Kerala.

In his article, Sudheeran alleged that the CPI(M) has not quit the poltics of violence in the state.