CPI pleads for national consensus to curb 'creed of violence'

New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) The CPI today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convene an All Party meet to evolve a national consensus to curb "politics of violence" which struck at the roots of the social fabric, the parliamentary system and democratic institutions.

In a strong diatribe against the RSS-BJP's combined "organised attack" on the CPI(M) headquarters here, CPI Floor leader in the Lok Sabha Gurudas Dasgupta said the All Party meet should be preceded by a resolution in Parliament to evolve a code of conduct by the political class so as to ensure that no political party used" creed of violence." At a press conference, Mr Dasgupta, flanked by party senior leaders S Sudhakar Reddy and D Raja, said the Election Commission should also be associated with the " national cause" so as to make it obligatory on the part of the Political parites to not to take to physical violence as a" political instrument".

Stating that the local issues be tackled at the state level, the CPI leaders said the" unheard of and unprecedented" attack in the national capital on the headquarters of the CPI (M) tantamounted to "an open challenge to Rule of Law, democracy and social harmony." Mr Dasgupta said it was unfortunate that the elected MLAs and councillors of the BJP took part in the attack." We appeal to the political parties, the civil society and public opinion to rise to the occasion like one man to combat the menace." On the Kerala High Court asking the state Governor to seek central forces to contain violence there, the CPI leaders said the Court had gone beyond its brief." This is a prelude to over judicial activism." Seeking central forces, he said, could be done by the state government or the state assembly. Mr Dasgupta said this was not the prerogative of the High Court.

Mr Reddy and Mr Raja, however, noted with "great sense of relief" that there was no other party other than the BJP and the Shiv Sena which did not condemn the "dastardly" attack on the CPI(M) headquarters." Even the partners of the BJP in the NDA came out with strong indictment of the Sangh Parivar's creed of violence." It was further unfortunate that Leader of the Opposition L K Advani, "a Prime Minister in- waiting and a man of difference did not utter even a single word against the attack, what to talk of offering regrets," they said.

On being asked about violence in Nandigram and Kannur, Mr Reddy said they were not saying what was wrong or what was right. The local matters should be tackled at the local level.

" Will we have now to safeguard our headquarter in Delhi? Will we have to safeguard other democratic institutions and the political parties themselves?" they wanted to know.

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