Smart City project only a ''real estate deal'':Achuthanandan

Kochi, Apr 9 (UNI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politburo member V S Achuthanandan today dubbed the Smart City project, proposed by the UDF government here, as only a ''real estate deal''.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Achuthanandan said that the Dubai Internet City (DIC), the promoters of the Smart City, were only interested in developing it as a real estate business.

Mr Achuthanandan, who has staunchly opposed the handing over of the government-developed 'Infopark' to the DIC as part of the Smart City, claimed that the DIC would not allow other information technology parks to come up in Kochi and would hold a monopoly over the IT infrastructure in the city.

On the People's Democratic Party (PDP) support to the LDF, Mr Achuthanandan reiterated that the Left was opposed to any communal politics. However, it had adopted a ''humanitarian approach'' to the incarcerated PDP leader, Abdul Nazar Madhani, an accused in the Coimbatore blasts case. ''It is inhuman to keep anyone as undertrial for such a long period, especially when he is ailing,'' he added.

The CPI(M) leader claimed that Congress leaders Vayalar Ravi and Oommen Chandy had visited Madhani in Coimbatore central jail before the last Assembly elections and promised all help for his release.

''However, the Congress did not keep its word to him.'' The State Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution, seeking Madhani's release, he added.

On the UDF alliance with the Democratic Indira Congress(K) of veteran leader K Karunakaran, Mr Achuthanandan said that no one will forget that the DIC(K) candidates were among the strongest critics of the Congress till recently.

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