Salem Division package against interests of Kerala: BJP

Kozhikode, Sep 11 (UNI) Describing the Salem Railway Division package announced by the Centre as ''against the interests of Kerala'', the BJP in the state today said some of the areas allocated to Palakkad Division after redrawing the jurisdiction were already part of the state.

Reacting to the arrangements announced by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, following a lingering dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the formation of Salem Division, Party Kerala Unit President P K Krishnadas told UNI that out of the promised 79 km from Madurai Division to Palakkad Division, 48 km in Meenachipura area was part of the state.

Another 21 km between Pollachi and Kinattukkadavu earmarked for Palakkad was on metre gauge and as such could not generate any revenue for the division, he said.

Although a decision was taken to convert it into broad gauge, it would take ten years once the project started, the BJP leader said.

Earlier, talking to newspersons he said wrong policies followed by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre were the reasons for the stalemate over the Salem Division issue.

''The Centre lacked a clear policy on railways'' resulting in an inter-state dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the creation of Salem Division, bifurcating Palakkad Division, he said.

He said BJP leader and former Minister of State for Railways O Rajagopal would stage a 'satyagraha' at Palakkad, demanding stalling of the bifurcation.

The date of the stir would be announced as soon as the inauguration of the Salem Division was announced by the Centre, he said.

UNI