Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Thursday said there was no need to worry over K. Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats. He was addressing an election meeting at Cheruthoni.
He said the United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala and the Union Ministers from the State had managed to avoid a crisis situation by their active intervention in the Western Ghats issue. “The intervention of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi on the issue cannot be ignored,” he added. “Now, there is no need for any concern over the issue”, he said. He said some officials had doubts over the report and it resulted in creating confusion among the people in the district.
Mr. Antony said the Congress government was the first government that decided to issue title deeds to those who came to the district before January 1, 1977.
Free treatment
The Congress party wanted to provide free medical treatment and interest-free education loans to deserving persons.
TP murder
He said the CPI(M) gave more importance to the party report on T.P. Chandrashekharan murder case than the court verdict. He also said voting for the BJP would lead to communal divide in the country.
BJP slams Antony
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national secretary P.K. Krishnadas on Thursday criticised Mr. Antony for allegedly questioning BJP leader Narendra Modi’s patriotism. He was addressing an election meeting at Thodupuzha. He also said Mr. Antony had not taken any steps to modernise the armed forces. He said the LDF fielded an independent candidate in Idukki to help the Congress win.
