Kasaragod: Despite the failure of conciliatory talks in the aftermath of the murder of two Youth Congress workers in the district initiated by Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan, the CPI has vowed to continue initiatives to restore peace.
At an the all-party meeting on Tuesday, the Congress as well as the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) insisted that a resolution be passed to demand a CBI investigation into the twin murders.
However, Chandrasekharan had said the opinion of other parties also have to be heard before taking a decision.
This was not acceptable to the UDF leaders, who left the meeting as a mark of protest.
DCC president Hakkim Kunnil, CK Sreedharan, KP Kuhikannan, A Govindan Nair from the Congress and Indian Union Muslim League representatives – district president MC Kamaruddin, secretary A Abdurahman and district panchayat president AGC Basheer - attended the meet.
The all-party meet at the District Collectorate was held in the aftermath of the brutal killing of Youth Congress workers – Sharathlal (Joshi) and Kripesh, allegedly by CPM local leaders and workers on February 17.
The murders triggered an outrage in the state, putting the CPM leadership in a fix.
“We are not against any efforts to bring back peace in the area. But the people's representatives, who should be initiating such efforts, are offering protection to the accused,” Hakkim Kunnil said.
He charged that MLA K Kunhiraman and other CPM leaders were instigating party workers to foment trouble.
The bereaved families had demanded that a CBI investigation should be ordered, when the minister visited the families of the deceased, Hakkim said.
Chandrashekharan visited the residences of the victims on February 21.
Though Chandrasekaran is a legislator of the CPI, the second largest constituent of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), his political opponents welcomed his gesture.
The revenue minister, representing Kanhangad constituency in the same district,was accompanied by CPI district secretary Govindan Pallikappil.
Soon after the visit, he told media that the families' demand for a CBI probe was reasonable.
His visit had kicked up a row, after LDF convener A Vijayaraghavan commented that it did not send out a right message. But he later went on to clarify his statement.
“He can visit as a minister from the district, not as LDF representative,” Vijayaraghavan clarified.
After visiting the houses, the minister had told media that he would initiate peace talks.
Several houses of CPM supporters were attacked and party offices were burnt during the hartal called a day after the murder.
Police registered cases against 115 people for charges including arson and destruction of public property.
A day after Chandrasekharan's visit, when chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed willingness to visit the bereaving families, Congress leaders in the district cited these cases and warned of serious repercussions from the locals in Kallyott, considered a stronghold of the Congress.
The murders also overshadowed official celebrations to mark 1,000 days of the LDF government.
The government had opted to hold extensive meetings to mark 1,000 days of LDF government with an eye on the upcoming general elections.
The CPM and the CPI have kicked off their road shows.
The marches, however, had to be called off for a day in Kannur and Kollam after the murders triggered an outrage.
Though tension prevails in the district, the CPI leadership is keen to carry on with the peace initiatives, party sources said.
Chandrasekharan could not be contacted for a comment.
