Left gives nod to ADB loan

Thiruvananathapuram, Feb 22 (UNI) The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala today decided to take the Asian Development Bank loan for urban development in the state.

''The LDF, in its meeting, today decided to recommend the government to avail the ADB loan after effecting certain changes in the earlier agreement signed between the previous Congress-led United Democratic Front government and the bank,'' LDF convener Vaikom Vishwam told reporters here.

He noted that the Memorandum of Understanding between the LDF government and the Bank in December should have been been signed only after discussing it in the front.

Asked about the earlier protests, of the LDF against the ADB loan when the UDF was in power, Mr Viswam said the LDF had not protested against the loan but only against certain conditions put forward by the ADB.

''After the LDF protested the UDF had to withdraw from the earlier agreement and were forced to make certain changes. We protested against the UDF government's move to impose the loan on the people of the state,'' he said.

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