Probe CPI(M) role in Marad riot: Antony

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 29 (UNI) Denying any mystery in the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) government not ordering a CBI probe into the Marad carnage in May 2003, former Kerala Chief Minister and AICC General Secretary A K Antony today said the role of the CPI(M) in the first communal riot in Marad in 2002 should be probed.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the previous government had taken all possible measures to prevent further blood shed and it was based on the consensus at an all party meet and legal opinion that the CBI inquiry was not ordered into the incident.

He strongly criticised Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan for making a statement there was a mystery in the UDF Government's decision not ordering the CBI probe. The stand of almost all the political parties, except the BJP, at that time was no such probe was required as it would affect the crime branch inquiry.

CPI (M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan himself had stated before the judicial commission that probed the Marad riots that there was no need for such a probe. ''If someone should apologise to the people for the Marad violence, then it is the CPI (M) and its state secretary.'' The former Chief Minister said of the 102 accused arrested in connection with the first communal riot, 78 were activists of the CPI (M). The area was a stronghold of the Marxity party and nothing would happen there without the knowledge of that party, he alleged.

Since the LDF Government had decided to go for a CBI inquiry on the basis of the Judicial probe report, the cause of the first incident in 2002 should also be brought under the purview of the investigation, he added.

Mr Antony said there was no lapse on the part of his government to tackle the situation in Marad.

UNI CR VV LS SSC1344