BJP demands action against fundamentalists and terrorists

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 10 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala today urged the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government to take stringent measures against fundamentalist and terrorist groups active in the state.

Stressing that fundamentalist and terrorist groups were a threat to the state, newly-elected BJP state president P K Krishnadas alleged that the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led LDF and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) were following the same policies of appeasing the minorities and creating an atmosphere for the fundamentalist groups to thrive in the state.

Mr Krishnadas who was elected president of the BJP state unit assumed his new office here today.

He also alleged that certain groups, which were banned, were active in the state and said that the situation had worsened only because of the wrong policies of the two Fronts that had been in power in the state. The 76 criminal cases against the National Development Front (NDF) were withdrawn during the UDF government, he said and added that no one knew why the cases were withdrawn. The CPI(M) which talks of secularism had aligned with Abdul Nasser Madani's People's Democratic party (PDP), he said.

Regarding the LDF government's proposal to revamp the Devaswom Boards, Mr Krishnadas said the BJP was against such a move and alleged that the LDF only had ulterior motives behind this. ''It is only the CPI(M)'s tactics to take control of temple governance. It should be noted that the other religious communities have the right to govern their religious places,'' he said.

Pointing out that the BJP was not against amendments in the Devaswom Board Act, he said the government should first hold discussions with Hindu organisations.

The six months' rule of the LDF was a "failure" and it was not different from the previous UDF government, he said. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had always raised his voice against unnecessary expenditure by the government but what about the Ministers in his Cabinet who had spent lakhs for furnishing their houses.

The Home Ministry was also a "total failure" as it was evident from the security lapse during the Prime Minister's visit to the stat, he said and added that the BJP would organise protests against the LDF rule.

On reports of infighting in the party, he said the state BJP was intact and there were no problems in the party.

Regarding senior leader Raman Pillai's allegations that the party president's election was not conducted according to the party's constitution, he said there was nothing of that sort and if there was any complaint, the Central Election Committee would look into it. ''The president's election is a closed chapter and if there is any complaint, the Central Election Committee will look int it.'' When asked about BJP's comments on the death sentence awarded to Saddam Hussein, he said "the BJP does not think that a person who had murdered Shias is not guilty. The actions of the US is also condemnable. They have violated human rights and are trying to pose as the world police. These acts of the US are to be opposed.'' The present protests against the sentence of Saddam Hussein were only one-sided, he said and added that the acts of the US and also Saddam should have to be opposed. ''Here one thing is justified and the other is opposed,'' he said.

About the BJP candidate in the Thiruvambadi Assembly bypolls, he said the party would take a final decision very soon.

UNI PN1650