It's up to NHAI to decide: Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

KANNUR: The state government will have no objection if the union government is ready to construct an elevated corridor at Keezhattoor to solve the issues raised by the agitators, according to CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. "It is up to the National Highway Authority of India to decide," he told reporters after paying floral tribute at the statue of the late CPM leader A.K. Gopalan in connection with the 'AKG commemoration day' hereon Thursday.

"It was not Pinarayi Vijayan or G. Sudhakaran who decided to construct the bypass through Keezhattoor, but the NHAI," he said and added that the state government's duty  is to take over the land identified by the NHAI. He told the activists, "don't think that wherever there is an issue you can convert the place into a Nandigram.  If the bypass does not become a reality, then the same activists will say that there is no development in the CPM citadels. That is what happened in   Tripura. Those alienated from the party due to misunderstanding on the issue should come back," he added. 

He also cautioned the agitators against preventing development in the name of environment. "If it is an attempt to topple the LDF government, the people will protect it," he said and added that the CPM will seek the public's support instead of creating anarchy.