CM's charges against Centre baseless: Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram, July 30 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Oommen Chandy today dismissed the charges of Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan that the Centre was ''neglecting'' the state's demands.

Participating in a 'face-to-face' programme organised by the Kesari Memorial Journalists Trust here, he said the Centre had taken a favourable stand towards Kerala in all issues, except the demand for a Railway Zone.

Referring to the ''threat'' by the Chief Minister that he would protest in front of the Prime Minister's residence, he alleged that the state government had not fully utilised the funds sanctioned by the Centre for natural disasters. ''The state government should effectively utilise the funds and schemes allotted to it,'' he added.

He alleged that the call for an agitation against the Centre was only an attempt to deviate the attention of people from the real issues.

UNI