Political parties playing to the gallery on Gail

KOZHIKODE: The mainline political parties are playing to the gallery by not taking a call on the Gail pipeline project in Malabar.  The local party leaders have  been in the forefront of public protests against the project.  The political parties have to respect  local sentiments to avoid a backlash in the elections.

The protest committee members have already warned  the political parties against supporting   the project. “The project is against the interests of the people and will result in land owners losing their right over their property. As per rules,  no gas pipelines should be laid through residential areas,”  Mr Mujeeb Rahman, one of the protesters said.

He said the local protest committees had expressed  their opinions  to all political parties.  They have also laid a condition that the local bodies should  object to the  project.

“All political party representatives have  supported us   as it is against the people,” Mr Abdul Salam, another protester said.

The CPM, Congress and IUML leaders have not  decided  whether to oppose or support the project. The CPM  will not allow it  if it fails to allay the fears of the public.

The  IUML state leadership  supports it  but is  helpless with the local cadres. The Congress leaders are also in the same dilemma.