KPCC chief assails LDF on HMT land deal

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 21(UNI) Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Ramesh Chennithala today said the ruling Left Democratic Front's (LDF) decision to leave the controversial Hindustan Machines and Tools (HMT) land deal at Kochi for the consideration of the court was an ''open surrender'' to the land mafias in the State.

Talking to mediapersons here, he alleged this once again proved the LDF's stand was to protect the corrupted people involved in the 'biggest land scam in the State.' Mr Chennithala further charged this was a pre-planned effort of the LDF to protect the tainted Ministers involved in the scam by ''white-washing'' the HMT land deal.

'The special interest taken by State Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem and Revenue Minister K P Rajenderan enabled the HMT to get legal validity for selling its prime land at a throwaway price to a real estate firm based at Mumbai,' he claimed.

The KPCC Chief said there was some ''mystery'' behind Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan's sudden ''twist'' from his earlier stand on the issue, as he had severely criticised the deal and said he would take necessary steps to get back the land.

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