The Hindu : Front Page : UDF to chalk out action plan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 10, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

UDF to chalk out action plan

Special Correspondent

Stir after High Court takes up SNC Lavalin case
Chandy says CPI(M) afraid of facing the court

Thiruvananthapuram: The United Democratic Front (UDF) has decided to give shape to an action plan for a large-scale agitation after Monday, when the SNC Lavalin case is expected to come up before the Kerala High Court.

The Opposition front’s high-power committee will meet on Tuesday to decide on the next course of action.

A meeting of the committee held recently decided to wait for the Governor’s decision on the Cabinet recommendation against giving sanction to prosecute Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and two other accused.

UDF sources said the coalition would legally and politically take up the Lavalin case. Tuesday’s meeting would give final shape to its plan to observe “betrayal day” on May 18, the third anniversary of the Left Democratic Front government.

The UDF leaders had met the Governor twice seeking a fair stand on the issue of giving sanction to prosecute Mr. Vijayan. The first meeting was on March 27 when the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections began in the State. The leaders pleaded with the Governor for an early decision. The UDF made the case an electoral issue, encouraged by the stance taken by the Chief Minister which was in divergence with that of the CPI(M).

On Friday, the UDF delegation met the Governor again urging him to take an independent decision on giving sanction for prosecution.

“The Advocate-General’s legal opinion, the Cabinet’s decision and the Chief Minister’s differences with his party have converted the Lavalin case into a national issue with focus on exposing the CPI(M)’s positions against corruption,” a senior UDF leader said.

The sit-in staged by Youth Congress leaders in Delhi against the Advocate-General was intended to get national attention for the case. Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy, on Saturday, alleged that the CPI(M) leadership had termed the UDF memorandum to the Governor a pressure tactic because it was afraid to face the court.

The CPI(M) had been persistently trying to avoid legal proceedings from the day it assumed power. The people of Kerala witnessed how the Advocate-General and the State government’s influence were used to achieve this objective, he said.

Mr. Chandy said the UDF had urged the Chief Minister to give the Opposition leaders a hearing before the State government expressed its views to the Governor. But the Chief Minister did not give that opportunity.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page