Attack on CPI(M) office: Centre assures action against culprits

The Centre today warned that it would start criminal proceedings against those involved in yesterday's attack on the CPI(M) office in Delhi.

It, however, rejected the BJP's demand for action against the Left-ruled Kerala, which last week witnessed political violence between the RSS and the Left cadres.

Both Houses saw noisy scenes with the Rajya Sabha being adjourned for over half an hour on this issue.

BJP parliamentary party spokesperson demanded that an all-party delegation be sent to Kerala to assess the situation "as it was done in Gujarat after the riots in 2002."

Home Minister Shivraj Patil, however, assured the Rajya Sabha that the Centre would hold talks with the Kerala government for restoring peace in the state, where two CPI(M) and five RSS workers have been killed in Kannur and Thalassery districts.

The assurance came after an impromptu debate in the House on yesterday's attack, which the Left parties alleged was engineered by the RSS and the BJP.

The latter, however, said the root cause of the incident was violence against their cadres in Kerala. "Anybody who has committed a crime will be proceeded against. You can be rest assured this will be done," Patil said.

The home minister said while the Centre would hold talks with the Kerala government, it was not possible for it to start an inquiry into the incidents.

"It is not possible for the government of India to start an inquiry. Then I will be doing it for other states also," he said.