Opp stages walk out in Kerala Assembly over tribal issue

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 20 (UNI) The entire Congress-led Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala today staged a walk out in the state Assembly in protest against the ''failure'' of the Government to stop loot of agricultural produce from the Aralam farm in Kannur district.

Speaking after Speaker K Radhakrishnan refused the admissibility of an Adjournment Motion sought by K Sudhakaran of the Congress, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy alleged that pro-CPI(M) Adivasi Kshema Samiti (AKS) activists illegally opened two depots within the farm, which was identified for the distribution among eligible landless tribal who were forced to sell their products in these depots at a very low rate.

The Government was turning a blind eye towards this looting by the pro-CPI(M) group, he said, adding that it should take immediate steps to distribute the land in the Aralam farm which was purchased by the previous Government from the Farms Corporation of India at a cost of Rs 42 crore.

Earlier, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had assured the House that every step would be taken to protect the interests of tribal families. But at the same time all the illegal occupants of the farm, irrespective of their party affiliation, would be evicted from there, he said.

The Minister said out of the total area of 6,587 acres of Aralam farm, 3,779 acres would be distributed to landless tribal families.

However, a group of tribals encroached the land in March last year and built about 700 huts. Another group also set up some 727 huts last month in the farm. The government wanted to settle the issue in a peaceful manner, he added.

Efforts were also being made to identify eligible candidates for the distribution of the land, the minister added.

Earlier, Mr Sudhakaran alleged that a large number of CPI(M) activists under the guise of tribals had encroached the Aralam farm and were looting poor tribals.

UNI