Congress asks M M Mani to go

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress has demanded  the ouster of power minister M. M. Mani from the ministry for his contemptuous remarks against women and decided to hold state-wide protests demanding his resignation. KPCC president M. M. Hassan told reporters after an emergency meeting of the  political affairs committee  that the party will hold protest meetings at district headquarters and at panchayat levels. The Mahila Congress leaders will hold protests in the evening.

The Congress also rejected UDF convener P. P. Thankachan’s stand on the demolition of the cross at the encroached land at Pappathichola in Munnar.  “The party  does not support encroachment under the guise of the cross,” he said. Mr Thankachan had on Friday criticised the  demolition of the cross and said it was ‘immoral.’  Evictions should not  hurt the feelings of the believers, he said. Mr Hassan, however, said,  “the KPCC has got only one stand and that is we don’t encourage encroachment in Munnar being done under the guise of the cross. It was  Thankachan’s personal stand and the Congress is not a party to his views. A  KPCC delegation will visit Idukki and Munnar,”  he said.

The team will consist of Benny Behanan, Joseph Vazhakkan, P. C. Vishnunath, Laly Vincent, Lathika Subhash, E. M. Augusthy and Roy K. Paulose. “Mani’s derogatory comments, S. Rajendran MLA threatening the revenue officials and  the spat between CPI and CPM are meant  to prevent the revenue department’s operation against encroachment,”  added Mr Hassan.