Though there were differences of opinion between the CPI(M) and CPI over Munnar evictions, the district leaders here say that it has not affected the collective decision within the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
The CPI had abstained from a meeting convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. No major decision was taken at the meeting and it was a follow up of an all-party meeting convened by the Chief Minister earlier, Electricity Minister M.M. Mani, who attended the meeting said.
The meeting was convened as there was apprehension over eviction of leased land and delay in issuing title deeds to farmers in Devikulam taluk. A memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister in this connection was signed by CPI leader C.A. Kurien and the party had the responsibility of attending it, he said.
He said a High Court order on the 22 cents of land of a private individual was due this month and this was not discussed at the meeting. He said he did not know the reasons why the CPI abstained from the meeting.
The Minister said there were only a few persons who had encroached upon the land in Munnar and it was the decision of the LDF to evict the land held by Kanan Devan company. The large scale encroachments were at Pallivasal, Vellathooval, and Chinnakanal grama panchayats. He said they were done by those from outside the district.
They should be taken back while protecting the interest of the poor and those who had been living for years in Munnar. The decision on eviction would be as per the collective decision taken at the all party meeting, he said and added that no major decision was taken at Saturday’s meeting.
He said there was a delay in implementing the decision taken at the all party meeting and the meeting was held for the speedy distribution of title deeds to all deserved, including those in the Devikulam taluk, he said.
K.K. Sivaraman, district secretary of the CPI, said that his party had a clear stand on the Munnar issue and it would not protect encroachments. A notice was served on the alleged owner of the 22 cents of land in Munnar after it was legally found encroached land.
He said there was no need of submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister and a meeting over the issue as it was sub judice. The Revenue Department had served eviction notice as per the rule and the meeting was uncalled for.
‘‘Our stand is clear and we will stick to the decision of the LDF over the encroachment issue. There is no major decision taken at the meeting and the eviction process will continue,’’ he said.
