Date:14/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/14/stories/2007081453880400.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

VS call to expose real estate mafia

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has called upon the media to expose corrupt deals by the real estate mafia which is acquiring huge tracts of land in the guise of forming land banks.

Inaugurating the 45th State conference of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) here on Monday, Mr. Achuthanandan said hawala deals, escalation of real estate price and corruption were linked.

KUWJ, which is the only fraternal organisation of journalists, has been in the forefront in fighting for the rights of the journalists. When a group of ‘neo-rich’ persons took over the oldest Malayalam daily, a number of employees were rendered jobless. KUWJ had taken up their cause and leaders like him had declared solidarity with the journalists, he reminisced.

Vested interests will try to stymie media pursuits to expose corruption. Media persons may be physically targeted, but they should face it with determination. Journalists should also try to identify the corrupt elements in their fraternity. Many were trying to gain illegal benefits and act as power brokers, Mr. Achuthanandan said.

More space and time should be devoted to serious issues. Instead of celebrating minor differences of opinion, there should be a quest to explore serious issues like ecology, refuse management, health and encroachment on land and water bodies etc, he said.

The Media Workers Welfare Fund Scheme, covering all those working in the industry, will be launched this year. He sought the cooperation of media houses for that.

Action was being taken to give pension to non-journalists and accreditation to those working in the news desks.

Mr. Achuthanandan said he had conveyed to the Wage Board that the demands of the union, including 60 per cent interim relief, should be granted.

Mayor C. Jayan Babu welcomed the gathering. Union president C. Gouridasan Nair presided.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Vijayakumar, Pannian Ravindran, MP, G. Karthikeyan, MLA, V. Sivankutty, MLA and BJP State president P.K. Krishnadas offered felicitations.

Reception committee general convenor Sasidharan Nair proposed a vote of thanks.