Kerala: Peace Meet agrees on peace deal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM and BJP-RSS leaders have made another declaration of peace and promised to end the cycle of violence in the state. Their willingness to control their cadres emerged at a meeting held at the Mascot Hotel which was attended by top leaders, including    Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.     All-party meetings will be convened in Kottayam on August 1, Kannur on August 5 and Thiruvananthapuram on August 6 to restore peace, Mr Vijayan said.

“Party or organisational offices should not be attacked under any circumstances. I have condemned the unfortunate incidents that have  happened in the city,”  he said. Mr Vijayan promised to take steps  to prevent untoward incidents in future. The CPM delegation also comprised state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and former MLA V. Sivankutty. The BJP and RSS team was  led by BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan, MLA O. Rajagopal, RSS pranthakaryavahak P. Gopalankutty Master and RSS South India chief T. V. Prasad Babu.

Mr Kummanam demanded that the police should be free to act against violent  elements. "The police should have the freedom to discharge their duties. They remained mute spectators when the hooligans went on the rampage.   The police should have the guts to take action against the culprits,” he said. It may be recalled that the CPM and BJP leaders had held  peace meetings here and in  Kannur three months ago.  This time  Governor P. Sathasivam himself intervened and summoned the chief minister and DGP Loknath Behera to Raj Bhavan following the outbreak of violence.