Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has come out in defence of Power Minister M.M. Mani stating that his comments in rustic language are being taken out of context and exaggerated for making political capital.
Replying to notice on an adjournment motion of Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on the comments made by Mr. Mani on women in the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr. Vijayan said Mr. Mani himself had clarified his stance on the issue that the agitation launched by the Pengal Otrumai was politically motivated.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the government had an uncompromising stance against encroachment and would honour the commitment given in the Left Democratic Front manifesto to evict all major encroachments and use the land for public purposes and to be distributed among the landless poor.
The campaign that the government had relinquished eviction did not hold water. The government was committed to issuing title deeds to settlers holding up to four acres of land before 1977. Referring to the eviction drive on April 17, Mr. Vijayan said the Revenue Department officials had not informed the police about their moves.
Regarding the removal of the cross installed by Spirit in Jesus at Pappathichola, he said that prohibitory orders were clamped at 1 a.m. and the police were not informed about it. This was not the right move. Hence a high-level meeting held on April 21 gave directions for coordinated efforts of the police and revenue officials. Public support was imperative for such actions. Hence, directions had been given to take the local political and community leaders, environmentalists, and media persons into confidence before embarking on such moves.
The government, he said, clearly differentiated between settlers and encroachers. It had been decided to issue title deeds to deserving dwellers in Idukki by next month. The settlers could not be taken to task for the mix-up in survey numbers in the title deeds issued by the government earlier. It should be verified and corrected, he said.
