CPI(M), BJP should shun violence: Chennithala

Expressing concern over recent violence involving CPI(M) and BJP workers in some parts of Kerala, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala today said those behind these incidents should be isolated "socially and politically".
"Occurrence of political clashes that claimed the lives of two youths during Onam festival has caused wide concern among peace-loving people of the state. They should isolate the perpetrators socially and politically," he said in his blog.
Giving details of political violence in Kerala in the last one decade, Chennithala claimed 98 persons had been killed in clashes involving activists of various political parties.
Of these, 42 had occurred in Kannur, a politically sensitive district, he said.

Among the total number of persons killed, 51 were either CPI(M) activists or party sympathisers while 31 were from RSS- BJP outfits, he claimed.
The May 4, 2012 murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party leader T P Chandrasekheran, who left CPI(M) to form the new oufit had shocked the political consciousness of Kerala, he said, adding the political setback the party faced after the incident was severe.

The recent spurt in violence had dashed peoples' hopes of an end to the political violence in the state, he said.
"On analysing the political violence that took place in the state in the last 10 years, one thing is clear, CPI(M) and BJP workers are behind a majority of them," he alleged.

Only a few people from other parties were involved in the violence and killed, clearly showing that Kerala could be a political violence free state if both these parties shunned violence, he added.
Chennithala also said the Congress-led UDF government was committed to take stern action against those responsible for the recent violence.