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`UDF leaders speaking in different tongues on Muthanga'

By Our Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA MAR. 5. The BJP State president, C.K. Padmanabhan, has said that the UDF leaders were speaking in different tongues on the police action against Adivasis at Muthanaga in Wayanad district.

Speaking to mediapersons at Alappuzha, he pointed out that the Forest Minister, K. Sudhakaran, had observed that the Intelligence wing of the police had failed to assess the situation at Muthanga. According to reports in the media, the Minister for SC and ST Welfare, M.A. Kuttappan, had observed that the number of casualties in the violence at Muthanga had been five, said Mr Padmanabhan.

``Both the opinions expressed by the Ministers are contrary to the earlier stand of the Government,'' Mr Padmanabhan said.

According to him, the conflicting opinions existing in the Government justified the demand for a judicial inquiry. A judicial inquiry was needed in the interest of the Chief Minister himself, Mr Padmanabhan noted. He reminded the Chief Minister to take a cue from the present investigations by the CBI into the murder of Verghese, a naxalite leader, in Wayanad several years ago.

Mr Padmanabhan asked why the State Government had waited for 45 days to evict the Adivasis who had encroached the forest land at Muthanga.

He noted that reports that some missionary groups were behind the extremist elements among the Adivasis needed to be investigated.

Speaking on the pollution of the Vembanad lake by effluents discharged by some of the freezing plants in the region, Mr Padmanabhan said it was leading to the destruction of fish wealth in the lake.

He noted that many of the plants situated near the lake did not have effluent treatment plants. He demanded strict action against such plants. Mr Padmanabhan said the BJP would organise strong protest against such companies.

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