Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary Pannian Ravindran has come out against the handing over of the Kovalam Halcyon Castle, terming the episode an indication of the United Democratic Front government’s attempts to sell everything ranging from the State’s natural resources, environment and now, even heritage monuments.
In a statement, Mr. Ravindran said the previous Left Democratic Front government had fought tough legal battles to ensure that the historically significant castle remained in the State’s possession. The LDF government had even amended laws to hand over the castle to the Archaeology Department and to preserve it as a heritage monument.
However, the UDF government, even when the appeals and counter-appeals filed in this regard stood in court, was making moves to hand it over on a platter to a private business group, the CPI State secretary said.
Demanding to cancel the move to hand over the palace, Mr. Ravindran said the efforts to preserve the castle as a heritage monument should be revived.
