Congress to say ‘no’ to bandhs, hartals

New Delhi, Nov.10, 2009
With bandhs and hartals affecting life, the Kerala unit of the Congress, on Monday, said it was likely to take a decision soon against such modes of protest.

Ramesh Chennithala, president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, said this while participating in a debate on politics at the World Economic Forum India Summit here, along with other party leaders from the State.

“As a major political party in the Opposition (in Kerala), we are also considering seriously not to have hartals. Our party committee has discussed it in detail; a final decision has not been taken,” he said.

The Congress, as a political party, had the right to hold demonstrations and protests. But it should take into account the fact that the people of the State had suffered from age-old modes of agitation, he said.

Decision soon

“There are other ways by which we can protest. In a few days, we are coming out with a decision on not calling for bandhs or hartals. Personally, I am also not in favour of hartals,” he said.

Mr. Chennithala’s views received support from his party colleague, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor, who represents the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency.
“I, personally, am against hartals. I will be very very happy if political parties can express their views without disrupting the normal life of the people,” Dr. Tharoor said, responding to participants’ queries during the debate.

He would never support bandhs and hartals as they were “morally wrong.”

Earlier, Mr. Chennithala, Dr. Tharoor, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy and Union Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas favoured cooperation between the ruling and the Opposition parties in taking forward development projects in the State, instead of the latter opposing the government for the sake of opposition.

Mr. Chandy said it was important for the ruling party to take the Opposition into confidence, and for the Opposition to work in a constructive manner.

Literacy and Naxalism

Prof. Thomas said the high rate of literacy in Kerala had ensured that Naxalism did not rear its head there. Education and employment could prevent social upheavals. “This would also ensure that people are in the mainstream of society,” he added.

Dr. Tharoor said politics was about “delivering results” to the people. Political parties, he said, should involve in a “constructive engagement” with one another and not in a “disruptive engagement.” — PTI