The Hindu : Kerala News : Denial of drought relief evokes strong protest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 13, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Denial of drought relief evokes strong protest

By Our Kerala Bureau

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 12. The Centre's rejection of Kerala's request for special drought assistance has invited strong protests from the State, cutting across political affiliations.

The Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, and the Leader of the Opposition, V. S. Achuthanandan, led the protest, urging the Centre to review the decision announced by the Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, on Wednesday. Members of the Cabinet, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), the CPI(M) State secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, and the All India Kissan Sabha State unit have joined the chorus of protesters in demanding the relief.

The Chief Minister said he would be meeting Union Ministers in this regard in New Delhi on August 20.

The Revenue Minister, K. M. Mani, expressed concern over the rejection of the special assistance. He told presspersons that there was no justification for rejection of the State's request for a special package of Rs. 3,847 crores. "The decision is very unfortunate," he added.

Even as Mr. Pawar rejected the State's claim, two higher officials of the Prime Minister's Secretariat were holding discussions with the Minister for Agriculture, K. R. Gouri, in New Delhi on the State's memoranda. After hearing the petition from the State Cabinet's sub-committee, the Centre had decided to send a multi-disciplinary team to Kerala. The State Government had been notified that the team would soon visit the State.

The Minister for Water Resources, T.M. Jacob, and the Transport Minister, R. Balakrishna Pillai, lambasted the Central Government for its approach. Addressing a function of the Kerala Youth Front here, the Ministers said the Centre should change its policies.

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