KANNUR: In an attempt to bring peace in the state following a spate of political violence between CPM and RSS workers, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and BJP state president Kumanam Rajasekharan along with RSS Prantha Karyavahak P Gopalankutty on Saturday held a meeting to urge party workers to refrain from violence and continue branch-level peace discussions.
The meeting was also attended by CPM district leaders led by Kannur CPM district secretary P Jayarajan.
Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, CPM secretary, told reporters after the meeting, "All possibilities will be explored to bring peace in the state. We have assured that the efforts would be made to urge the workers of the both the parties to refrain from violence."
Leaders of both CPM and BJP admitted that the violence initiated by workers of both parties had affected the law and order situation in Kannur especially at Payyannur and Thalassery. The local-level leaders of both parties will hold more talks in Payyannur and Thalasserry on August 11 and August 16 to discuss means to reinstate peace in the area. The district leaders will also attend the meeting.
Kodiyeri said, "The decision of the peace talks will be passed on to the ground-level committees. Any provocation from any member of the party will be treated seriously and action will be initiated against them."
Kummanam Rajasekharan, BJP state president, also said the party would take all valiant efforts to reinstate peace in the state. "We will direct the party workers to refrain from violence and cooperate to reinstate a peaceful atmosphere," he said.