Slight erosion in people's faith in Cong's secularism: A K Antony

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leader A K Antony today said people's faith in the party's commitment to secularism appeared to have "eroded slightly" and it was vital to regain the confidence of the masses to move forward.

Antony said this while addressing a meeting held at the KPCC headquarters here in honour of late Congress stalwart C K Govindan Nair.

"There appears to be a slight erosion in people's faith in secularism of the Congress. This has to be examined. It is vital for the party to regain the faith of the people to move forward," he said.

"There appears to be doubts in the minds of some people that while professing and practising secularism, the party has some slants... that all sections of people do not receive equal justice. This has to be removed," he said.

Antony also expressed concern at the "growing influence of communal forces" even in Kerala, where secularism had struck strong roots.

The meeting was organised in honour of C K Govindan Nair, freedom fihgter and former KPCC president who played a central role in Kerala politics during the 1950s.

Senior party leaders and functionaries including KPCC president V M Sudheeran recalled the services rendered by Nair. PTI NM RC KND 06271627 NNNN