UDF made Kerala a role-model to the country in economic front: CM

Pathanamthitta, Mar 28 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said the United Democratic Front (UDF) was credited with porviding a new face to the state through the upsurge in the economic field.

Inaugurating the state-level-UDF election convention at Konni, here, he said the state had become a role-model to the whole country on the economic front. The state would outpace the country in the average economic growth by March 31 when the current economic year ends, he added.

''In the service sectors like Education and Medicare, the state occupied a unique place in the country, the main hurdle to progress was the reluctance on the part of Kerala to act foreseeing the golden opportunities,'' he said.

Accusing Left Democratic Front (LDF) of obstructing the development policy of the UDF Governement. He criticised CPI(M) for cutting down crops in the name of ''revolution'', its approach took the state backward.

''The CPI(M) had been following a retrogressive policy of annihhilalation, allergic to development it took the State Backward by 20 Years. It was the CPI(M) that sabotaged the ''Smart City'' Project at Kochi. If it came into fruition 33,300 persons would have got direct employment and one Lakh indirect employment,'' he said.

He added the UDf Government had worked out porjects to fulfil the ''10 Point programme'' of President A P J Abdul Kalam. He advised creative policy instead of creating followers for the sake of agitation alone and called for a development-friendy awareness as the need of the hour.

Former Minister R Balakrishna Pillai and Minister Adoor Prakash also spoke on the occasion.

UNI XR CGV OM GC2221