Congress asks CM to ensure LDF's confidence in Munnar issue

Thiruvananthapuram, May 17 (UNI) The Congress in Kerala today extended all support to the state government in the demolition drive at Munnar, but asked Chief Minister V S Achutanandan to take into confidence his own party -- CPI(M) and the CPI in his efforts to clean the hilly tracts off encroachers.

Talking to newspersons here, Pradesh Congress Committee(PCC) President Ramesh Chennithala said ''The Congress wants all encroachments across the state to be cleared and we extend all support to the government.'' Asking Mr Achutanandan to take into confidence his own partymen and the LDF partner -- the CPI, he said the Congress had not asked for withdrawing the Task Force, that was now engaged in the demolition drive. It was the Chief Minister's own partymen and the CPI which had asked for it, he alleged.

On the completion of one year of the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front(LDF) government, Mr Chennithala said the government could not raise to the expectations of the people. ''The LDF came to power with big hopes. But it has failed in all fronts,'' he added.

In the Higher Education sector, he said there was still uncertainty in the admissions to the professional colleges.

Last year also there was total confusion among the parents and the students and the LDF was not able to overcome this situation, he alleged.

Regarding the farmer's issues, the PCC Chief said the government had failed in addressing their problems and said in the last one year about 102 farmers had committed suicide. Moreover, the government had lost collective responsibility, he added.

The Health Ministry had also witnessed the deaths of new borns to Chikanguniya, he said.

Regarding the Smart City IT park, which was highlighted as a major gain by the LDF government, Mr Chennithala said the Smart City agreement signed during the previous Congress-led United Democratic Front(UDF) was far better than the one signed now.

UNI