Hartal: Kerala govt willing to convene all-party meet
TNN | Jan 29, 2019, 06:47 IST
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan (File photo)THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Monday that the state government was willing to convene an all-party meeting evolve a consensus to bring an end to the trend of calling unnecessary hartals.
"There has been a calculated attempt to scuttle the progress of the state by calling unnecessary and frequent hartals. Those who have no role to play in the growth of the state are behind this," he said.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that if the government wanted to end the practice, then it should pass the anti-hartal bill in the present session. The opposition will support the bill, said Chennithala.
To this demand, the chief minister said, "Let us first reach a consensus on regulating hartals. The matter can be brought into the House after that.''
The state had witnessed frequent hartals after the Supreme Court verdict granted women, of all age groups, entry into Sabarimala temple.
"There has been a calculated attempt to create communal tensions in the name of hartals at some places. The government is viewing this seriously. The violence at Manjeswaram and incident where stones were pelted at a mosque in Perambra are some serious issues,'' said the chief minister.
Such violence should be seen as an attempt to destroy the communal harmony prevailing in the state. The forces which are triggering such violence are standing against the secular credentials of the state, added Vijayan.
The dawn-to-dusk hartal called immediately after two women entered the Sabarimala temple led to destruction of both public and private properties.
It has been estimated that private parties suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1.03 crore during this hartal, and public properties worth Rs 28.43 lakh were destroyed.
The government has asked the state police chief to take tough action against those who are indulging in violence and destroying the properties, added the chief minister.
"There has been a calculated attempt to scuttle the progress of the state by calling unnecessary and frequent hartals. Those who have no role to play in the growth of the state are behind this," he said.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that if the government wanted to end the practice, then it should pass the anti-hartal bill in the present session. The opposition will support the bill, said Chennithala.
To this demand, the chief minister said, "Let us first reach a consensus on regulating hartals. The matter can be brought into the House after that.''
The state had witnessed frequent hartals after the Supreme Court verdict granted women, of all age groups, entry into Sabarimala temple.
"There has been a calculated attempt to create communal tensions in the name of hartals at some places. The government is viewing this seriously. The violence at Manjeswaram and incident where stones were pelted at a mosque in Perambra are some serious issues,'' said the chief minister.
Such violence should be seen as an attempt to destroy the communal harmony prevailing in the state. The forces which are triggering such violence are standing against the secular credentials of the state, added Vijayan.
The dawn-to-dusk hartal called immediately after two women entered the Sabarimala temple led to destruction of both public and private properties.
It has been estimated that private parties suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1.03 crore during this hartal, and public properties worth Rs 28.43 lakh were destroyed.
The government has asked the state police chief to take tough action against those who are indulging in violence and destroying the properties, added the chief minister.
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