Avert communal divide over college issue: Karuna

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 11: Democratic Indira Congress (K) leader K Karunakaran today urged the Achuthanandan Government in Kerala to hold talks with the managements of self-financing colleges to solve the present crisis in the sector and thereby avert a possible communal polarisation over the issue.

Reacting to the statement of Christian religious leaders that they would fight against the recently enacted legislation on self-financing colleges in association with the Muslim groups, Mr Karunakaran told newspersons that no one should try to spread communal hatred in the name of minority rights.

Stating that the Government should not take a confrontationist approach, he alleged that Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, who attacked the religious heads over the issue, also failed to settle it amicably. The problems in the self-financing colleges should not be seen as the issue of any particular community.

It was a fact that Christian community had contributed a lot for the progress of educational sector in Kerala. But at the same time, the downtrodden section of the society should not suffer due to the decisions of college managements and the government, he added.

He also urged the Left Democratic Front Government to reduce the sales tax on petroleum products to mitigate the suffering of common man.

On his party's tie-up with the Congress-led United Democratic Front, Mr Karunakaran said there was no proposal at the moment.

''When the time comes, they (the Congress) will approach us,'' he added.

UNI