BJP govt 'transitory'; Congress will return to power: AK Antony

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Kerala CM AK Antony on Tuesday said that the NDA-led Central government is "transitory" that came to power "due to the showmanship and marketing technique of (Prime Minister) Modi", while asserting that Congress would form the government.

"What has risen at the North during the last (Lok Sabha) polls is not a Sun, but a comet," he said about the emergence of BJP and Narendra Modi as Prime Minister.

Expressing confidence that Congress would return to power under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the former Defence Minister said at a press meet here, "The present BJP government at the Centre is only transitory that came due to the showmanship and marketing technique of Modi."

Lambasting the "communal" policies of BJP-led NDA government, Antony said, "Only statements are coming from the government, nothing concrete is happening at the ground level," and condemned the "growing intolerance and communal poison," in the country.

"The nation is heading towards a great danger as its basic structures of diversity and secularism is facing unprecedented threat under BJP regime which is controlled by

RSS," he said while referring to the recent Dadri lynching as well as killing of two Dalit children in Haryana.

"Development process in the nation has come to standstill under the NDA government," he said and took a dig at the 'Make in India' programme, saying "nothing has happened in defence sector under the new initiative."

Antony flayed the "silence" of Modi and BJP on Hindu Mahasabha's plan to observe birthday of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as 'Balidaan Diwas.'

Hitting out at CPI-M-led LDF opposition in Kerala, he claimed Congress alone can fight the "communal agenda" of BJP-RSS.

"How can the CPI-M and LDF which has no address and support of people in north India check the surge of BJP in the country?," Antony asked.

"CPI-M has not changed in years. They still stick to their old slogans and ideologies. CPI-M has failed to read the writing on the wall," he added.

Referring to CPI(M) fielding Karayi Chandrashekharan and Karayi Rajan, both accused in the murder of Muhammad Fasal, a Popular Front of India activist, in 2006, in the civic polls in the state next month, Antony said, "CPI-M is giving a message that they would protect the partymen whatever be their background."

The two are contesting from Patyam division of the Kannur District Panchayat.

On civic polls, Antony said the results would be a verdict for the continuation of the congress-led UDF government led by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

He claimed the government had succeeded in implementing a comprehensive development programme in the state during its rule in the last four and half years.

Terming the civic elections as a "semi-final" before the assembly polls next year, Antony said, "Competition in the finals will be between UDF and LDF while BJP will be out of the picture."

On the proposed Third-Front by BJP with the support of backward Ezhava community organisation Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), the Congress leader noted, "Third Front in Kerala will not gain root."