UDF now stands united: Karunakaran

By Our Staff Reporter

KASARAGOD, FEB. 1. The Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram `Kerala Mochana Yatra' led by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. A.K. Antony, was flagged off at Hossankadi, near Manjeswaram, here today.

The senior Congress leader, Mr. K. Karunakaran, launched the three-week political campaign tour at a public function in the afternoon. Inaugurating the yatra by giving a ponnada to yatra members amidst cheers of UDF workers, who turned out in large numbers, Mr. Karunakaran said the yatra epitomised the great responsibility that the people had entrusted to the UDF. It was part of a long-drawn-out campaign aimed at bringing the five years of the Marxist misrule to an end.

``The UDF now stands united much to the chagrin of forces that wanted to see the coalition broken,'' he said. The UDF was committed to marshalling its collective energy to ensure that the Marxists could not come to power again, he said.

Accusing the Marxists of being anti-democratic, the Congress leader said the CPI(M) was adopting a policy of ostracising and outcasting those who were not prepared to toe the party line. The CPI(M) did not have the guts to stop this long march that would culminate in the fall of the LDF Government, he said.

The IUML State president, Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal, who presided over the function, said the CPI(M)-rule proved to be detrimental to the interests of the people and the State. Despite the promises made by the LDF in its manifesto, the policies of the State Government were harmful to the people and the hardest hit by these were the poor, he said. The failure of the LDF Government was most visible in the pathetic and inefficient handling of the law and order situation. While culprits resorted to violence, the Government machinery remained mute spectators, he said. ``The people wanted a change of Government for the development and progress of the State,'' he said.

Speaking at the function, Mr. Antony reiterated that the only alternative to the culture of political violence and murders and growing economic crisis in the State was to put an end to the Marxist misrule. ``We are on this jatha not to become Ministers and MLAs, but to ensure that Nadapuram does not happen again,'' he said.

Stating that the State was lagging behind in Information Technology and science and technology sectors, Mr. Antony said the yatra's main objective was to mobilise the people's support for an alternative development agenda of the UDF. The UDF, if it comes to power, would involve the private sector to give a boost to the IT and science and technology sectors, he said. Efforts would be made to open more engineering colleges in the State with the participation of the private sector, he said.

``The yatra will continue till the mission of ousting the CPI(M) from the State's rule is over by next April,'' he said adding that the bastions erected by the CPI(M) using its muscle power would be demolished through the ballot.

The UDF leaders, Mr. P.K. Kunhalikkutty, Mr. K.M. Mani, Mr. T.M. Jacob, Ms. K.R. Gouriamma, Mr. M.V. Raghavan, Mr. A.V. Thamarakshan and Mr. R. Balakrishna Pillai spoke at the function.

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