A K Antony sees crisis in party, seeks early revitalisation

Kochi: The Congress is facing the biggest challenge in its history in Kerala, said senior party leader AK Antony on Sunday. “I hope everyone in the party will make effort to select efficient DCC presidents capable of bringing back the people moved away from Congress as well as revitalize the party at this juncture”, he said.   Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the KP Elizebius Master Memorial meeting Mr. Antony said the organisational revamping of the state unit will be completed soon.

The Congress Working Committee member also condemned the police atrocities against Dalit youths in Kollam. “The incident is gruesome and the state government should take stringent action against the guilty”, he said. The police should not bring back culture of incapacitating people taken into custody by torturing them, he added. Mr. Antony also urged the INTUC leadership in the state to extend their activities to the workers from other states. “If INTUC wanted to be strengthened it should extend its activities to unorganized sectors more and more”, he added.

He also asked the trade union leadership to remain vigilant on attempt by the authorities to bring new regulations inimical to the interest of the workers. “Attempts are on to prevent the right to organise and bring foreign investment in a reckless manner”, he said. New areas for foreign investment should be opened only after making an assessment of the impact of globalization in the past 25 years, he added.