The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee on Saturday passed two resolutions expressing its opposition to the Narendra Modi government’s moves to revive the Pampa- Achankoil-Vaippar river link project and the promulgation of the Land Acquisition Ordinance to undo the beneficial laws passed by the previous UPA government.
The resolution, passed at the KPCC executive committee meeting here, wanted the Centre to withdraw its moves considering the larger interests of the people of Kerala. The project was not acceptable to the State since water resources was a State subject and the Pampa and Achankoil rivers flowed through the State.
An earlier proposal to link the rivers had been dropped on grounds that it was not feasible and on the basis of the apprehension expressed by Kerala.
The resolution, pointing out to the Kerala Assembly’s unanimous stance against the project, said Tamil Nadu had been making all out attempts to pull off the project.
The second resolution expressed the party’s reservations about the Land Acquisition Ordinance, which virtually dismantled the provisions brought in by the previous UPA government. The amended version had been introduced to further the business interests of corporate houses.
Agitation
Addressing a press conference here, KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran said the party would launch the first of its agitations against the anti-people policies of the Central government by organising a sit-in in front of Raj Bhavan on February 4. Party workers would hold similar demonstrations in front of select Central government offices, with the exception of railway stations, in the districts. The KPCC also expressed its protest at the refusal of the Modi government to pass on the benefits of lower crude oil prices to the consumer.
