Thiruvananthapuram, May 12: Opposition leader in Kerala Assembly V S Achuthanandan today termed as `serious' Union Minister of State for Defence O Rajagopal's charge that a minister had a role in the May 2 Marad carnage that claimed nine lives. "The minister's charge is serious. But instead of going public with the information, he should have taken it up with the Deputy Prime Minister and Chief Minister who handle the home portfolio at the Centre and the State," Achuthanadan told mediapersons here.
He said Rajagopal, who held a responsible post, did not treat the matter seriously. The allegation against the minister should not be turned into a political slogan of the BJP, he said.
Achuthanandan said Chief Minister A K Antony could not fulfil the promise of an impartial probe into last year's communal violence at Marad in which five persons were killed. He wanted Antony to take urgent steps to book culprits involved in the recent violence instead of issuing statements.
He alleged that Antony was co-operating with the BJP at the Centre which was evident from the UDF government's reluctance to ban VHP's `Trishul Diksha’. Bureau Report