A fight against political murders: Congress leader A K Antony

KASARAGOD

: Senior Congress leader A K Antony has said the agenda of the party in this

Lok Sabha

election is to put an end to political murders, and for that the CPM candidates should be defeated. Addressing a news conference here on Sunday after visiting the houses of slain Youth Congress activists Kripesh and Sarath Lal at Kalliyot, he said the fight against politics of violence and murder was as important as other issues in the election.


“I am sure this time the Lok Sabha election would be a verdict against the politics of violence and the conscience and the sense of justice of the people in Kerala have decided that they would teach such people a lesson,” he said.

This time it would be a clean sweep for the UDF and the aim is to win 20 out of 20, Antony said. He said the families of the slain youths were not satisfied with the present investigation and this was communicated to him.

“Though it was promised that all the killers would be nabbed soon, there was no considerable progress and the families still feel that the people behind the murders are roaming scot-free. Hence the government should support a CBI probe,” the Congress leader said. “Our chief minister who handles the home department should tell the police not to oppose CBI probe when the plea comes in the court,” Antony said.

“If the CPM has nothing to hide, CBI probe should be ordered as demanded by the families of the victims, and if the government is not ready for that, the people would think the government is trying to hide something,” he added.

He said during the visit he had many touching experiences, which underscored the social acceptance of the two youth. There was an incident of the postponement of a marriage slated for the third week of February, following the murders, and when it was solemnized last day, they tied the

knot

in the presence of cut outs of the two youths, which was a rarity, Antony said.