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LDF blind to tribal cause: Chandy

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Feb. 26. The UDF convener, Oommen Chandy, has alleged that the Opposition LDF's agitation in the Assembly on the tribal issue is aimed at sabotaging the State Government's well-intended moves to settle the tribal land redistribution issue, which has been hanging fire for several years.

Appealing to the CPI(M) to call off the ongoing hunger stir by its Chief Whip, K. Radhakrishan, in the Assembly, Mr. Chandy asserted that the LDF's agitation would only serve to divert attention from the real problems of the tribal population. He said that everyone was convinced about the valid steps taken by the Government in pursuance of the Chief Minister's and the Government's assurance to the tribal leaders at the conclusion of their agitation.

It was unfortunate that the Opposition should act blind to the various steps the government had so far taken given the limitations.

He claimed that the UDF Government had secured a breakthrough in land distribution to the tribals, something which no government in the past had been able to achieve. Listing out the various steps taken by the State Government to address the tribal issue, Mr. Chandy said the Government had adopted a liberal attitude towards the forest encroachment by tribals in Muthanga and Wayanad till the encroachers resorted to violence.

Mr. Chandy released the copy of Union Environment and Forest Minister, T.R. Balu's letter requesting the State Government to evict encroachers from Muthanga and the letter of Chief Secretary, N. Chandrasekharan Nair, to Mr. Jiwarajaka, member secretary of the Central Empowered Committee, listing out the various steps taken by the State Government to get the tribals vacate the land.

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