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LDF calls off fast by MLAs

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MARCH. 21. With the Antony Government deciding to seek a CBI inquiry into the police firing on Adivasis at the Muthanga forest, the Opposition LDF has decided to call off its indefinite fast before the Secretariat to press for a judicial inquiry into February 19 incidents.

The decision to suspend the stir was taken by the LDF State committee which held an urgent meeting here this morning. The former Prime Minister, H. D. Deve Gowda, brought the fast to an end by giving lime juice to the CPI(M) deputy legislature party leader, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the Janata Dal (S) legislature party leader, A. Neelalohithasan Nadar, Mr. N. Rajan (CPI) and Mr. Kovoor Kunjumon (RSP). Mr. Nadar and Mr. Kunjumon have been on fast for the last 14 days. The MLAs were removed to the Medical College Hospital.

Speaking on the occasion, the former Prime Minister accused the State Government and the police of having behaved in an ``uncivilised manner'' towards the agitation. Paying encomiums to the fasting MLAs, particularly Mr. Nadar and Mr. Kunjumon, Mr. Gowda said it was unfortunate that the Government had not responded to their fast earlier.

The attempt of the fasting MLAs was to draw the Government's attention to the Adivasi land question, but the Government chose not to do so. Although the hunger strike was being called off, the agitation for Adivasi land would continue in other forms and the issue would be raised jointly in Parliament by opposition parties, he said.

Earlier, briefing reporters about the LDF State committee deliberations, the Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, said the decision to call off the fast was taken in response to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) call to everyone concerned to create a climate conducive for the proper conduct of the inquiry into the Muthanga incidents.

However, the Opposition would continue to boycott all official functions till the Government agrees to meet the LDF demand for an independent and just inquiry into the political lapses that led to the Muthanga police firing, police atrocities on LDF leaders in connection with the SP office marches on March 17 and the attacks on journalists at Muthanga and other parts of the State, he said. Terming the NHRC's rejection of the reports submitted by the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police a bodyblow to the Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, the Opposition Leader said he should step down if he had even an ``iota of morality left in him''. The Chief Minister, he pointed out, had all along maintained that the NHRC was more powerful than even a judicial inquiry. If that were so, he should accept moral responsibility for the NHRC finding that the reports of the Chief Secretary and the DGP were prima facie unconvincing, Mr. Achuthanandan said.

The Opposition would organise campaign jathas in all panchayats on March 23 and 24. However, the march to taluk offices slated for March 25 was being dropped.

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