All-party meeting at Kannur to broker peace

Thiruvananthapuram: In an effort to broker peace in Kannur, which has seen frequent political clashes between the ruling CPI(M) and BJP, an all-party meeting will be held Tuesday in the northern district in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The decision in this regard was taken at a high-level meeting convened by the Chief Minister here with the state leadership of CPI(M) and BJP.

The all-party meeting will be held at 10 AM.

CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, senior party leaders Anathalavattan Anathan and M V Govindan master, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan, former Union minister O Rajagopal, MLAs and RSS leaders were among those who took part in today's meeting.

Balakrishnan said an understanding had been reached to restore peace in Kannur.

"Small issues many a time lead to violence and this needs to be told to party cadres," he said.

Rajasekharan said BJP would back all efforts to bring back peace in the northern district.

Police should probe the cases impartially, he said, adding they should be allowed to probe cases honestly.

Last month, a 52-year-old BJP worker was stabbed to death allegedly by CPI(M) activists at Andaloor in Dharmadam, the constituency of Pinarayi Vijayan, and a country bomb hurled at the RSS Karyalaya at nearby Thaliparamba.

A country bomb was also hurled allegedly by BJP workers at a meeting venue at Thalassery, where Balakrishnan had addressed a meeting on January 26. One person was injured in the incident.

BJP has been claiming that attacks on its cadres have increased since the CPI(M)-led LDF government came to power.