'Deliberate attempts' to polarise Kerala on communal lines: AK Antony

Senior Congress leader AK Antony on Saturday cautioned political leaders in Kerala about the "deliberate" attempts being made to upset the sensitive communal balance in the state. "Deliberate efforts are being made to polarise the state on communal lines," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here. "Vested interests are waiting to make use of every opportunity to add fuel to the fire and conscious efforts are going on to divide people on communal lines.

"It is the responsibility of those holding key posts to make all efforts to prevent any communal flare-up in the state," the leader said. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and former defence minister wanted efforts to be made to ensure social and communal amity in all strata of the society. 

Antony's statement comes at a time when BJP is making efforts to woo Hindu caste organisations like Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, the social organisation of numerically strong Ezhava community in the state. The community has expressed reservations at the "minority appeasement" policies of ruling Congress-led UDF and Opposition LDF. 

BJP state President V Muralidharan hit back, saying Congress and its coalition partner Muslim League were responsible for communal polarisation in the state.