Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday accused the RSS of deliberately trying to create unrest in Kannur district, which has been marred by political violence in the recent months.
He, however, agreed to the Congress-led opposition's repeated demand in the assembly for a dialogue to ensure peace in the district.
Ever since the Vijayan government assumed office in May, seven political murders have taken place in Kannur -- of four activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party and three of the Communist Party of India-Marxist.
Senior Congress legislator K.C. Joseph, who represents Irikkur assembly seat in the district, sought to move an adjournment motion to discuss the Kannur violence.
"It's rather strange that whenever the CPI-M rules the state, peace disappears in Kannur district. It's a matter of deep concern that the violence is unleashed by a party that rules the state and by a party that rules the country," he said.
The Congress leader said the Chief Ministers in the past have always taken the lead to hold peace meetings whenever violence broke out. "Now, even after seven murders, the present Chief Minister is silent," Joseph said.
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In response, Vijayan said Thiruvanthapuram district led in terms of political murders while Kannur was at sixth place.
"In Kannur, the RSS is trying to create unrest on purpose. RSS people arrested for crimes in Kannur hail from outside," the Chief Minister said.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy requested Vijayan not to let matters drift and urged him to immediately bring all parties to the table to sort out the problem.
"The need of the hour is that there should be an overall change from within... that one should not act with vengeance. Now that Chandy and others have asked for peace talks, I am ready," the Chief Minister said.
Vijayan said local leaders in Kannur should first sit down for talks and later state-level leaders of political parties can meet in Kannur or the state capital. "I will fix the time and let you know," he added.
--IANS
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