People's Democracy

 Protest Over Memento to Sharon

THE presentation of a memento to the Israeli prime minister by K V Thomas, Kerala tourism minister at New Delhi evoked strong protest from the Left parties and the ‘I’ group (Karunakaran group) of Congress (I) in Kerala.

V S Achuthanandan, leader of opposition and member of CPI(M) Polit Bureau said that the tourism minister could not have presented the memento and extended an invitation to Sharon to visit Kerala without the consent of the chief minister, A K Antony. He demanded that the chief minister should come clear on the issue. E K Nayanar, former chief minister said that it was shameful for Antony government to do this at a time when Israel was threatening Arafat with expulsion and murder.

The KPCC(I) president K Muraleedharan commented that what the tourism minister had done went against the policy of Congress party and that of the state government. He said it is for the chief minister to take further action. This issue had also widened the gulf between the ministers and the KPCC(I).