LDF failed to maintain law and order: Ramesh

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 18 (UNI) Alleging that Kerala government had failed to maintain the law and order situation in the state, particularly in the politically volatile Kannur district, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee today demanded Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan to convene an all party meeting to discuss the issue.

Talking to reporters here, its president Ramesh Chennithala said the Chief Minister and Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan should treat the issue very seriously and initiate necessary action to check the situation.

Countering the Home Minister's remark about the low crime rate quoting National Crime Records Bureau statistics in the state was because of the willingess of the police to register and investigate even minor offenses, the KPCC chief charged that the LDF government was slipping away from the realities, instead of taking effective steps against the inreasing crime rate.

He recalled the observations made by the Kerala High Court that the police was helping the land mafia and increasing bank robberies in the state.

Condemning the political clashes and murders between the RSS and the CPI(M) in Kannur district during the LDF regime, he said at the time of Mr A K Antony, the situation in the district was quite peaceful, thanks to the initiatives taken by him.

Charging that the LDF government was a ''total failure'' in checking the prices of essential commodities in the state, he said the KPCC would organise a protest march to all taluk offices on January 28.

Mr Chennithala also alleged that the LDF government could not protect the interests of minority communities and claimed that it could be done only by the UDF government.

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