LDF constitutes panel to look into CPI's charges

Thiruvanathapuram, June 6 (UNI) The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) today constituted a committee to look into the allegations of the Communist Party of India, over the demolition of a portion of its party office in the hill station of Munnar during the government's anti-encroachment drive.

Stating that the demolition drive would continue in full swing, LDF convenor Vaikom Vishwam said the formation of a committee would not, hinder the drive, which had even been endorsed by the people of the state.

The committee is comprised of Mr Vishwam, CPI Assistant State Secretary K E Ismail, Kerala Congress (J) leader P J Joseph, RSP leader T V Chandrachoodan, Congress (S) leader Kadannappaly Ramachandran and Janata Dal (S) leader K Krishnankutty.

As the people of the state had welcomed the demolition drive, the government should have continued the task with more vigour, Mr Viswam told reporters after the Front meeting here. ''This was the opinion of all the LDF partners at the meeting,'' he said. The LDF took a decision to constitute a committee regarding the issue after the CPI raised its protest against the demolition of a portion of its party office at Munnar. It had even said the act of the Task Force, constituted to look into the demolition, was totally 'unjustified.' The party's state executive meeting which held here this week had said the party office stood at a site it bought in 1958, which was not an encroached land. Meanwhile, The CPI wanted the government to go ahead with the campaign and suggested that the land encroached by the mafia should be retrieved without bothering about their political affiliations.

The Committee also wanted the government to allow Plus One batches in government schools in the northern Malabar area as there was a shortage of higher secondary schools there. If a place did not have government schools, then the government should take adequate steps to suit the situation, he added.

He said the LDF had also asked the government to start high schools in all the panchayats.

Regarding the professional colleges, Mr Vishwam said the government should look into the managements' readiness to cooperate with it. The government should also talk with the other managements and arrive at a consensus, he said.

The LDF also protested against the Centre's decision to include only 15 per cent of the population in Kerala under the BPL, where as it was actually 40 per cent, he said and added that the government should discuss the issue with the Centre.

The LDF would celebrate the 30th anniversary of CPI(M) led government in West Bengal in a grand way, he said.

UNI