The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Church running misleading campaign: CPI(M)

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Monday, Jun 15, 2009
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Church running misleading campaign: CPI(M)

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretariat on Sunday criticised Christian religious heads for running a misleading campaign in association with United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders on the 1959 ‘liberation struggle,’ terming its celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the movement as an “undemocratic act.”

In a statement here on Sunday, the CPI(M) State secretariat said the joint celebration of the 50th anniversary by the Christian church and the UDF was politically motivated. The LDF government and the communist movement stood for the welfare of all sections of people, including the Christian community.

Communists did not want a confrontation with the church. The LDF government was prepared to work out a favourable decision through discussions on the various issues on the basis of mutual trust, the statement said. The CPI(M) and the LDF were ready to accept the statement of Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil and Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil that the government should adopt the path of consensus on its face value.

‘Opposition dreaming’

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, in a statement, criticised the UDF leaders for justifying the 1959 ‘liberation struggle’ against the then Communist-led government in the State. The Chief Minister said the statements of Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy and Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi on the ‘liberation struggle’ smacked of arrogance in the context of the Congress’ returning to power at the Centre. The Opposition leadership was again dreaming of a similar movement.

He said the Congress had given leadership to the ‘liberation struggle’ with the support of reactionary forces which wanted to sabotage the State’s economic and social development. The then government had introduced several epoch-making reforms, such as land reforms, besides introducing universal education.

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