Central Govt not to intervene in Kerala problem 8212; Rajagopal

8220;Control of law and order is the responsibility of the state government. However, political parties have a right to express their protest in democratic ways and it would be undemocratic if the Centre intervened in state affairs. This is the common approach of the Vajpayee Government,8221; said Rajagopal.

He said that it was high time that political parties said no to the politics of confrontation. Differences in policies of political parties should not be permitted to stand in the way of people8217;s welfare, he said. 8220;Let parties compete in serving the people8217;s cause,8221; he said.

The Union Minister,however, complained that the state government seemed to view the Vajpayee Government as 8220;untouchable8221;. Asked whether the state government had shown due respect to him as a Union Minister during his maiden visit to the state, Rajagopal said: 8220;I do not have any protest. They provided me vehicle, food and accommodation.8221;

He blamed the state government for its apathy in providing adequate facilities to Sabarimala pilgrims. The Union Environment Ministry was yet to receive replies to some queries sent by it to the state government on the latter8217;s representation for more forest land at Sabarimala, he said. He also criticised the government for charging pilgrims extra fare on KSRTC Sabarimala buses. 8220;Let us hope that the government8217;s negative approach towards the pilgrims is not because of its ideological opposition8217; to Sabarimala pilgrimage,8221; he said.

Asked whether he would initiate steps to revoke the previous government8217;s decision to freeze bank accounts of some 20-odd para church movements in Indiaunder Foreign Currency Regulation Act FCRA, the Minister replied that he was yet to look into the matter. However, he added that there were complaints that foreign money flowing into these church movements was making unhealthy interventions in Indian politics.

Meanwhile, contrary to Rajagopal8217;s theory of 8220;consensus and co-operation with the state governments8221;, BJP state president C.K. Padmanabhan, who was present on the occasion, warned the LDF government of a people8217;s movement against its 8220;jungle rule8221;.

Padmanabhan said that the party8217;s two-day state meet held at Sulthan Battery had decided to lay seige on all taluk offices in the state on National Human Rights Day. BJP workers would also picket the secretariat on November 10, he said. BJP district president V.N. Unni was also present on the occasion.