Thursday, Jul 17, 2003
Thursday, Jul 17, 2003 |
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Kerala
By Our Special Correspondent
Talking to presspersons after today's Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said his statement had been misinterpreted to mean that he was attacking overseas Keralites. Mr. Antony said he had only made some observations against the background of social changes and imbalances creeping into society. The Government itself was facing difficulties, as a solution to the Marad issue was not in sight. A few managements had defied the Government policy on self-financing professional colleges. All these had pained him and he had spoken out of grief. He said there was no need for explanations about his statement as it had been published in full. Only the background that led to his making the statement need be explained. The Chief Minister said he had no intention of hurting the sentiments of overseas Keralites. The Government was taking various measures to help them and was also seeking their help for the development of the State. They contributed to the State's development and were one with Keralites sentimentally. He said that he saw nothing wrong in the Indian Union Muslim League going to the Congress high command to complain against his statement. He was not above reproof by the high command. He had never criticised KPCC presidents and was not for a debate with the KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan, over his remark that his statement was against the party policy. The Congress always stood for protection of the interests of minorities. Explaining the special circumstances that led to his statement, Mr. Antony noted that the Marad carnage was unprecedented. The violence could be contained only because the police rushed to the spot within 20 minutes. The police had been given professional freedom for the investigation and most of the accused had been arrested. The chargesheet would be filed in ten days. However, peace talks were not progressing. For the first time, conditions were being stipulated for attending peace talks. The Government did not receive cooperation from certain quarters from whom initiatives to reduce tensions were expected. He said the Government had sanctioned self-financing professional colleges freely with the vision that two self-financing colleges would be equivalent to one Government college as 50 per cent admissions were stipulated to be made on merit. However, one management went to court despite the unwritten understanding on admissions and fixing of fees by the Government. Capitation fee was being taken. The Government and the police had to tackle an agitation because of the adamant stand of one or two managements. He said that he had been closely observing the social changes taking place in the State.He said that today's Cabinet meeting had not discussed the controversy. He often received brickbats after becoming the Chief Minister.
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