Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 14: BJP Kerala unit would organise a one-day fast on October 02, to "expose UDF government's minority appeasement policy", BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Defence, O Rajagopal, today said. After participating in a function, he told reporters here that Chief Minister A K Antony's remarks that BJP was opposed to the rehabilitation of families displaced at Marad after violence, was with an eye for the Muslim votes in the coming Ernakulam Lok Sabha bypoll on September 23.

Asserting that BJP was not against rehabilitation of families, Rajagopal said government first should create a conducive atmosphere in the area to avoid any trouble in future before proceeding with the rehabilitation process. Government should take the Araya Samajam community (fishermen) into confidence before proceeding with the process, he said adding otherwise there would be adverse consequences.

Decision of the government to complete the process before October 2 was with a view to satisfy the Muslim community before the bypoll, he said.

"It is unfortunate that a process that has to be undertaken with care and seriousness is being used for temporary political gain", he said.

Bureau Report