Date:17/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/17/stories/2005111713840100.htm

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Byelection will be a pointer: Chandy

Special Correspondent

Says people will air their views on Kannur violence and stalling of development

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Lok Sabha byelection from Thiruvananthapuram constituency will be a pointer to whether people want Kannur style politics of the CPI (Marxist) in the State, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here on Wednesday.

He told presspersons, after a Cabinet meeting, that people wanted a positive change against injustices perpetrated by the CPI(M) and its strategy of stalling development projects in the State. This would be reflected in the election results. Asked if the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress too were not participants of politics of violence in Kannur, the Chief Minister said the Congress would not encourage violence under any circumstance. The Congress culture was rooted in Gandhian culture.

Referring to the statement of CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat that the party was not in the way of investments, Mr. Chandy said Mr. Karat might not be aware of what was happening in the State. The United Democratic Front Government led by A.K. Antony had come to power with a development agenda. However, during the past four years and a half, the CPI(M) had not agreed to any of the development proposals of the Government. The party even locked up Asian Development Bank officials who were here in connection with assistance for tsunami relief. About Rs.102 crores of the proposed assistance was in the form of grants.

The type of industrial investments proposed by Mr. Karat would not be feasible in the State, Mr. Chandy said. Shortage of land and environmental problems came in the way. Investments in information technology and tourism were more suitable for the State.

He said the Government would not abandon any project because of agitations or protests. Mr. Chandy, however, parried questions on suspension of the second phase of development of Sabarimala. "Who suspended it? The master plan is required for carrying forward the development plans. The Government had got forest clearance after repeated efforts." He said the ADB loan for city corporations had been delayed by three years because of vacillation by CPI(M)-controlled corporation councils. They agreed finally after the Government promised to bear the repayment liabilities. The project size would be of Rs.1,400 crores, of which Rs.100 crores would be a loan from the ADB. He did not give an answer on whether the State would have to bear the exchange risk for the loan carrying interest rate of 5.5 per cent.