M.K. Muneer, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and Indian Union Muslim League leader, has reportedly pulled out of a day-long brainstorming session planned by the Organiser , mouthpiece of the RSS, to “seek a way out of the culture of political violence in Kannur” in Kozhikode on Saturday.
Prafulla Ketkar, editor of the weekly, told reporters here on Thursday that Dr. Muneer had earlier agreed to be part of the programme. “I had personally invited him and he had agreed to participate. Now, something has happened and he may not be able to make it.” Mr. Ketkar said that ‘compulsions’ and ‘pressures’ from different quarters might have forced him to stay away.
Dr. Muneer, however, was not available for comments. Leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) too are unlikely to participate in the function though Mr. Ketkar expressed the hope that they would be present.
The other participants include Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president M.M. Hassan, Kerala Congress leader P.C. Thomas, BJP national vice-president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, and RSS leader M. Radhakrishnan. “We met Communist Party of India State secretary Kanam Rajendran and he has promised representation,” Mr. Ketkar said. Swapan Dasgupta, senior journalist and MP; M.D. Nalapat, executive editor, Sunday Guardian; and N.P. Rajendran, former deputy editor, Mathrubhumi, would attend the media session. Earlier, he claimed that the event would try to formulate a solution to what he called the “intolerant murder politics”.
“The events in Kannur are now being perceived as a clash between the cadres of the CPI(M) and the BJP or the RSS. A blame game is on. We will try to find way out of the vicious circle.”
M.G.S. Narayanan, historian, who is the chairman of the organising committee, claimed that the event was expected to be the first step towards maintaining peace in the region.
