Kerala Congress (M) Chairman K.M. Mani, MLA, has demanded that Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan take away the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Welfare portfolio from A.K. Balan as he had failed to protect them when their land was taken away in Attappady by multinational windmill companies.
Inaugurating the first district convention of the party after its merger with Kerala Congress (J) here on Wednesday, Mr. Mani said, “A.K. Balan pretends to be in the dark about the land scam in Attappady. But it took place with the knowledge of the government. Action should be taken against those involved in this major tribal land scam.”
Mr. Mani said that “such a major scam cannot take place without the help of departments like Revenue, Registration, Forest, SC and ST Welfare and Electricity. No action is being taken against the windmill companies who usurped tribal land. The present agenda of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) is not to protect the tribals but the windmill companies.”
The convention was addressed by Kerala Congress (M) working chairman P.J. Joseph, P.C. George, Thomas Unniyadan (M.L.As) among others.
The meeting was presided over by K.V. Mani, district president of the party.
