Kannur can be brought back to normalcy: Vijayan

Kannur: Kannur district, considered Kerala's most volatile due to the violent rivalry between the CPI-M and the BJP/RSS, can be brought back to normalcy, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday.

"Even though previous peace talks have not earned the desired results, normalcy can return to Kannur... when the peace talks between the top leaders, percolate to the grass roots in the parties," Vijayan told reporters here on Tuesday soon after taking part in a peace meeting.

Top leaders of his Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and as well as from other parties participated in the meeting to diffuse the political tension lurking in this district, where, over the years, the rival parties have lost a good number of their cadres and supporters on account of the violence.

Vijayan, who himself hails from Kannur district, and represents Dharmadom assembly constituency which saw four people getting killed in political clashes between these two parties after he assumed office in May last year.

Former state BJP president P.K. Krishnadas told reporters after the meeting that his party will fully cooperate with all efforts which will bring peace in the district.

While both the CPI-M and the BJP has always blamed one another, the Congress blames both these parties for the situation in Kannur district.

"The only way for violence to end in Kannur is both these parties should jointly decide to lay down arms. The issue surfaces when people in this district change from BJP to CPI-M and vice versa, for their own existence. We welcome all efforts by the government, but mere sitting round the table and discussions won't help... instead the desire for peace should come from the heart of hearts of these parties," Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala told media persons in the state capital.

State Congress president V.M. Sudheeran said that the need of the hour is police should be given a free hand to deal with the situation.

"What we have seen over the years are the real culprits who do the crimes are shielded and instead others are fielded as the culprits. This has to end once and for all," he said, according to a press release.