Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy has demanded deployment of Central forces in Kannur alleging breakdown of law and order there.
Mr. Chandy's demand comes in the wake of a group of people attacking and partially damaging the venue of a meeting to be addressed by Defence Minister A.K. Antony. Terming it a serious security lapse, Mr. Chandy alleged that CPI(M) activists were behind the attack.
Addressing a ‘meet-the-press' programme at the Thrissur Press Club on Friday, he alleged that the CPI(M), gripped by fear of defeat in Assembly elections, was unleashing violence.
“Series of incidents in Kannur point to the violent restlessness of the CPI(M). The body of a Youth Congress activist, Balan of Ambayathode-Kottiyoor, was found hanging in his house (on March 30). CPI(M) activists had assaulted Balan the previous night.
CPI(M) leader P. Jayarajan, MLA, had assaulted and verbally abused a journalist. CPI(M) State Pinarayi Vijayan made light of the abuse, terming it ‘friendly talk.'
‘‘If such is friendly talk, where is the State headed? The CPI(M) has totally lost its sense of balance,” Mr. Chandy said.
In reply to a question, he said he had no plans to file a defamation suit or pursue action against the former Minister K.K. Ramachandran who had raised allegations of corruption. “The reason: he is a fellow party worker. Let him furnish proof to substantiate his allegations. The charge of corruption in sanctioning an anti-pollution project for Travancore Titanium Products is totally baseless,” Mr. Chandy said.
He said the LDF government had implemented the anti-pollution project cleared by the UDF government led by him. “The project originally had three components: Copperas Recovery Plant (CRP), Acid Recovery Plant (ARP) and Neutralisation Plant (NP). Of these, the LDF dropped the ARP,” he said.
He said the LDF was spreading false propaganda that the UDF had torpedoed a scheme to provide rice at Rs.2 a kg. “The LDF had cheated the people of the State through the scheme. In its order clearing the scheme, dated February 25, the LDF government had not stated how many kg of rice would be given at Rs.2 and the financial commitment involved. The government informally told ration dealers to provide only 3 kg every month to every APL card holder,” he alleged.
He refused to comment on a pre-poll survey that stated he was next to V.S. Achuthanandan in the choice for Chief Minister's post.
