Cong to launch agitation and formulate development vision

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 15 (UNI) The Congress in Kerala today decided to launch agitations against the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front and explore an alternative vision for development and social justice.

''Apart from agitations, the party has also decided to take up constructive programmes with a vision for development of the state and to bring in social justice,'' AICC general secretary and in charge of Kerala Veerappa Moily told reporters here.

Alleging that the nine-month-old LDF government had failed on all fronts, he said ''even after nine months, the Left Front could not settle themselves because of internal problems. The Left was not in a position to take decisions and there was a 'crisis of conflict.'' Mr Moily said the state was running into overdraft and was now at the mercy of the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India. ''If this situation continues, the state is going to have serious problems,'' he said.

He was critical of alleged increase violence in the state.

Fundamental forces were holding sway and it had become vulnerable to unwanted elements, he said, adding the state government had not taken notice of the situation.

On the party's reorganisation, he said it would be complete in six months.

KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, who was also present, said the party had decided to go for agitations after the LDF could not rise upto the people's expectations. 'We had kept silent for the last six months to see if the Left government would keep its promises and also take up issues concerning the state,' he said and added that the government was going from ''bad to worse.'' Accusing the LDF of fighting against the judiciary and media, he said, ''The LDF's protests against the court were an intrusion of democratic rights.'' Elaborating on programmes to be held in the next six months, he said Union Overseas Minister Vayalar Ravi would inaugurate the birth centennary of Panampally Govinda Menon in March in Thrissur. Defence Minister A K Antony would inaugurate the birth centenary at Palakkad of Kutty Malu Amma, next month, among others.

UNI