Kerala CM Achuthanandan cautions against communal propaganda

New Delhi Sep.1 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, in an interview to senior journalist K. Gopalakrishnan underlined the secular character of the State of Kerala, and said that the State police will intervene against any attempt to disturb it.

In the interview published in Power and Politics, Achuthanandan said that Kerala is a state where communal harmony exists, and the tradition is of fraternal harmony among all religions.

He said: "There is a trivial faction in each religion that plans to disrupt it in an organized manner. The police is strongly intervening to suppress such endeavours. But what is needed is the unity of the people beyond the barriers of religion and caste to alienate the communal and terrorist outfits. Strong campaign is essential for that purpose."

When asked about his recent statement in New Delhi, the Kerala Chief Minister said: "Efforts were widely made to misrepresent the facts I explained about communal terrorism while answering questions from the press at Delhi. The Muslim League leaders and some others who opposed my statements that there are some efforts from some corners to spread the message of Islamic Nationalism were trying to picture me as anti- Muslim."

"Could any one portray us as anti Hindu since we are continuously pposing the Hindu Nationalist propaganda of the RSS?" he asked

Commenting on his remarks about inter-communal marriages, he said: "I do not think that religion or caste should become a barrier for marriage. The basis for marriage should be the affection between male and female. In fact, we must encourage marriage between different religions and castes. At the same time, there should not be any other motive behind this. In my opinion, inter-caste marriage should be promoted."

Achuthanandan added in the interview: "It is in the experience of the people that the Communists are ready for any sacrifice for the protection of the minority. We are constantly trying to unite all the secular forces to alienate the communal forces." (ANI)