The Hindu : Karunakaran mocks at disciplinary actions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 28, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Karunakaran mocks at disciplinary actions

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI DEC. 27. With comments and veiled criticism of the Antony Government and the KPCC leadership, soon after his son's warning against such criticism, the senior leader, K. Karunakaran, opened the two-day Congress leadership camp here on Friday.

In his brief opening speech, Mr. Karunakaran criticised the party leadership's attempts to discipline certain leaders' propensity to air their views to the media. He wondered if the `disciplinary initiative' by the KPCC would bring in any good and if `discussions for a day or two' would sort out the problems plaguing the party. As for the Government, he said the Chief Minister and the Ministers concerned were speaking in two voices on key issues. He pleaded for avoiding such `confusions'.

The camp, attended by almost all party Ministers, MLAs and MPs as well as KPCC and DCC leaders, is said to be the largest such event in the recent history of the party. The Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, senior AICC leaders from the State such as Vayalar Ravi and Ramesh Chennithala, the UDF convener, Oommen Chandy, the party disciplinary committee chairman, C.V. Padmarajan, and the entire party leadership of various levels were present.

The brainstorming session, aimed at bringing in more cohesion and unity in the party, is also sought to drive home the point that criticism of the party and the Government in public would be harshly dealt with. It also sought to give a bit of `leadership training' and guidance on key national political and economic issues.

Mr. Karunakaran claimed that party leaders and cadres were forced to air their views in public as there were no proper party fora to express their grievances. He complained that party activists who ``worked for 24 hours a day for the party'' were not appreciated and their problems not addressed. Criticising the disciplinary initiatives, he said: ``You cannot take the party forward with disciplinary actions.''

Earlier, the KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan, appealed to party leaders and activists of all levels to refrain from open criticism. He warned that such criticism would be handled mercilessly. His warning came a day after two MLAs, T.H. Musthafa and K.K. Ramachandran Master, at a press conference in Kochi, made scathing attacks on Mr. Karunakaran and the leadership. The two MLAs had complained that while Mr. Karunakaran was allowed to make highly harmful criticism of Sonia Gandhi or Mr. Antony, those criticising Mr. Karunakaran's utterances were immediately punished.

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