Govt's eviction drive a "sham": Congress

Kochi, July 8 (UNI) Terming ''sham'' the Kerala Government's eviction drive, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Ramesh Chennithala today said ''Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and his council of ministers were performing funeral rites for the much-hyped efforts on to reclaim government land at Munnar in Idukki district.'' Addressing a press conference here, Mr Chennithala said though the government had full support of the Opposition and public, it lost credibility due to 'double standards' in the eviction drive.

He alleged that Mr Achuthanandan's statement that places of religious worship and political establishments would not be demolished was an effort to protect certain interests of the encroachment lobby.

''The Chief Minister's statement that 'Dhanyashree Resorts' will not be demolished was a bid to protect CPI and CPI(M) offices and around 200 resorts, which were on encroached land,'' Mr Chennithala alleged.

''This statement was the last nail in the coffin for the eviction drive and the government was currently performing funeral rites for its efforts,'' he further alleged.

He said the Chief Minister was trying to gain 'cheap publicity', when he went to Munnar to erect a government board on the so-called reclaimed government land from TATA Tea.

Reiterating Congress' support for the eviction drive, Mr Chennithala said the government should have more transparency in the drive and all illegal constructions and encroachments should be dealt with severely.

Mr Chennithala also alleged that the government had lost 'collective reponsibility' as the council of ministers were taking different stand on the issue.

UNI