Date:21/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/21/stories/2007092150530100.htm

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LDF not for probe into Ponmudi land deal

Special Correspondent

Vaikom Viswan says the LDF backs Chief Minister’s decision.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) State committee appears to have decided against any inquiry into the Ponmudi land deal.

“Can there be an inquiry every time somebody says something about someone else? The LDF fully approves the stand taken by the Chief Minister on the issue,” Front convener Vaikom Viswan told reporters after an LDF State committee meeting here on Thursday.

Replying to questions from reporters, Mr. Viswan said nobody was afraid of any inquiry and pointed out that the Chief Minister himself had made this clear in the Assembly. An inquiry would be necessary only if there was some wrong had been done. There was nothing wrong in the government’s approach towards the issue and the Government did not intend to do anything that would jeopardise the possibility of a world class institute of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) being set up in the State, he said.

State-wide campaign

The LDF convener said the government would take steps to retrieve the land that had got alienated. The LDF committee had decided to organise a State-wide campaign from October 1 to 10 to defend the Government against the propaganda war unleashed by the Opposition UDF.

He said the LDF panel had decided to explore the possibility of bringing forward a law in place of the Essential Commodities Act to prevent hoarding and black marketing of ration articles. The LDF also discussed the possibility of vesting ration wholesale trade in the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) beginning with some district in the State, he said.

]Mr. Viswan said the performance of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) was also discussed at length. The LDF discussed ways to improve the financial position of the Corporation and had decided to allow the KSRTC to use the real estate in its possession in all the districts to raise revenue besides that from ticket sale.