The 19th State conference of the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) will be held here from May 12 to 16.
Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, AIYF State secretary K. Rajan said the conference, which is being held in the city after a gap of 44 years, would be an occasion to declare battle against the “anti-people” policies of the State government which was trying to emulate the Central government in its privatisation policies.
Terming Chief Minister Oommen Chandy “the brand ambassador” of real estate business in the State, Mr. Rajan said Mr. Chandy’s stand on granting permission to lease out the Kovalam Palace and giving the go ahead for the proposed Aranmula airport project was testimony to this. He said the federation had decided to take a strong stand against the State government’s move to privatise drinking water and to “indiscriminately” hike the electricity charges in the State. The conference would announce agitation plans against the move.
ADVERTISEMENT
Making clear the federation’s “uncompromising” stand on environmentally sensitive issues, Mr. Rajan said the Madhav Gadgil committee report on the Western Ghats should be implemented without dilution. The federation would strongly oppose the Athirapally hydro-electric project in its present form, he added.
According to P. Gavas, general convener of the organising committee of the conference, the flag, banner, flag-mast and torch-bearing rallies starting from different places in the State will reach the ‘Sukumar Azhikode Nagar’ (Muthalakkulam Grounds) at 4 p.m. on May 12 marking the beginning of the five-day conference. AIYF State president G. Krishnaprasad will hoist the flag opening the conference at 5 p.m.
A solidarity meet for different survival struggles taking place in different parts of the country will follow.
ADVERTISEMENT
Anti-Posco movement leader Abhay Sahu will inaugurate the solidarity conference.