Thiruvananthapuram: As protests continued in Kerala over the Centre's direction to implement the Western Ghats conservation report, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday offered to look into the concerns of the state, which has thousands of small and marginal farmers settled on the slopes of the mountain range.
According to Congress MP from Wayanad M. I. Shanawas, Gandhi had promised to take up the state's concern with the Centre and that farmers would not be evicted from the land they held.
Shanawas called on Gandhi in New Delhi alongwith Bishop Remigius Inchananiyel of Tharamassary Diocese, patron of the resistance group spearheading the campaign in north Kerala, to convey the anxieties of the people in the affected areas.
"The Congress President is seized of the seriousness of the matter. She has assured us that no farmer will be evicted from the land they hold," Shanawas told reporters in Delhi.
Seeking to cool the heat over the issue, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said in Kozhikode that the state government would not implement the Kasturirangan report in haste disregarding the interests of farmers in affected areas.
Meanwhile, the hartal called by the LDF in highrange Idukki and Wayanad districts disrupted normal life but passed off peacefully. The LDF has also called a state-wide hartal for Monday to protest "unilateral imposition" of the recommendations without consulting the state.
The protests over the issue had turned violent in Kozhikode and Kannur districts on Friday with irate mobs torching government vehicles and attacking forest department offices.
Next: Cong, CPI(M) playing vote bank politics over W'Ghats: BJP
Cong, CPI(M) playing vote bank politics over W'Ghats: BJP
Thiruvananthapuram: BJP in Kerala on Saturday came down heavily on the ruling Congress-led UDF and CPI(M)-led opposition LDF for creating panic among people and violence in the name of Gadgil and Kasturirangan panel reports with their "eyes on the vote bank".
BJP state president V Muraleedharan told reporters here that both the ruling and opposition parties could not evade the responsibility for the violence during the protests over the issue in parts of the state.
"The violent incidents that happened in many parts of the state especially in Kozhikode were pre-planned. They were part of attempts by the Congress and the CPI(M) to create panic among people eyeing vote bank. Police did nothing to avoid or control the violence," he said.
He said blowing out of proportion the western ghats issue since last month was the result of a "conspiracy" by some groups to create problems in the way of the smooth conduct of the annual Sabarimala pilgrimage which got underway on Saturday.
"Not only the vote bank politics, but an attempt by some sections to mar the Sabarimala pilgrimage is also behind the present violent protests. The frequent protest strikes and hartals will create difficulties for pilgrim," he said.
"Our party is in favour of implementing Gadgil report as it ensures a democratic intervention of people before the implementation of the recommendations. Gadgil clearly pointed out in the report that it should be discussed at the grassroot level before goes for implementation. However, Kasturirangan report denies people this chance," he said.
The leader also said the states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra had already approved Gadgil report.
