The Hindu : Row will not result in leadership change: VS

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 14, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Row will not result in leadership change: VS

By Our Staff Reporter

PALAKKAD JULY 13. The Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, today said that he did not expect any leadership change in the ruling United Democratic Front Government as a result of the ongoing controversy over the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony's statement on political pressure used by minority communities.

Talking to presspersons here, the CPI(M) politburo member said the `strong stand' threatened by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) against the Chief Minister would remain only as a threat since both minority and majority communalism wanted Antony to remain in power so as to pressure him and get more benefits.

He said the hue and cry created in the name of communities by the "so-called saviours of various communities was only to get the benefits by counting the heads of each community. This did not help the average community members in any way and only the rich benefited from these institutions".

Mr. Achuthanandan said the Chief Minister was appeasing both minority and majority communalism in turn and using them for his political gains.

Though an impression has been created that the controversy had triggered political upheavals in Kerala, in reality it has not created any significant political upheaval, the Opposition leader said.

He said the UDF, after coming to power, was taking steps to grant more concessions to private educational managements at the cost of aided and Government- run educational institutions.

The self-financing colleges sanctioned by the Government were resulting in the closure of a large number of Government-aided institutions, he said.

Mr. Achuthanandan said that by sanctioning self-financing colleges in the medical and engineering field, the Government was helping private managements to corner huge profits. The 50 per cent quota given to them was depriving meritorious students of both the majority and minority communities of admission to professional courses, he said.

Mr. Achuthanandan said the Opposition LDF was not demanding a CBI inquiry into the Marad incident as such an inquiry would not be impartial in the existing political situation, especially when the agency is under the BJP Government at the Centre.

Hence, the LDF wanted a judicial inquiry into the Marad incident, Mr. Achuthanandan said.

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