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UDF to boycott Sudhakaran’s functions

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: The United Democratic Front (UDF) on Friday decided to boycott all official functions of Cooperation and Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran in protest against his statements against political leaders and prominent people in society.

At a press conference here after a UDF high-power committee meeting, coalition convener P.P. Thankachan said Mr. Sudhakaran had made a habit of using foul language against people who were respected by society.

The UDF leaders had repeatedly urged the Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and his party leaders to curb Mr. Sudhakaran’s tendency to make derogatory remarks, but no attempts had so far been made to bridle the Minister.

It was in this context that the UDF had been forced to decide that its leaders, MLAs and workers would boycott all the official functions of the Minister, Mr. Thankachan said.

The boycott would continue till Mr. Sudhakaran corrected himself and tendered an apology.

The UDF also expressed concern at the failure of the Cabinet to come out with details of the food security scheme, especially in relation to its funding and implementation.

Even though Revolutionary Socialist Party leader T.J. Chandrachoodan had brokered a pact with the warring Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Mr. Achuthanandan did not state whether the Cabinet had taken a decision as per the pact.

Terming the entire exercise a drama, Mr. Thankachan wanted the government to disclose details of its implementation, including whether separate funds would be instituted for the programme, a technical committee be set up and its budget.

The UDF decided to stage dharna in front of the district collectorates, with the exception of Thiruvananthapuram, in the first week of June demanding the implementation of the food security scheme. The date will be announced later.

‘Misunderstood’

Reacting to the UDF’s decision, Nr. Sudhakaran said in Kochi that the compliment given to Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony was misunderstood. “I have not criticised Mr. Antony to the extent to which Congress leaders K. Karunakaran and Ramesh Chennithala have gone,” he said.

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