Govt must intervene: Chandy

Pathanamthitta, Sep 25 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Oommen Chandy today said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government should intervene immediately and take steps to find a solution to the 14-month-long Chengara land struggle.

Talking to reporters here after visiting the leaders of the Chengara land struggle, he said the government should take steps to give land to the agitating people through legal means.

Mr Chady, who led a delegation of UDF MLAs and other leaders, suggested that the government should seize the land illegally possessed by the Malayalam Harrisons Plantations and distribute it among the members of the ''Sadujana Vimochana Samyoukta Vedi'', who were leading the agitation.

If the land was not sufficient the government should take the surplus land from the Revenue Department for the purpose, he added.

The previous United Democratic Front (UDF) Government had bought the Aralam Farm by paying Rs 40 crore and distributed it to adivasis in the area, he claimed and said the UDF had no interest in politicising the issue.

Mr Chandy said the Congress and the UDF would support the LDF government's decision to give land to the landless SC and other backward communities.

He said the report of their findings after the discussion with agitators would be submitted to state Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan tomorrow.

On the siege by the plantation workers against the Chengara land struggle agitators, he said he was not against the strike by the workers for their demands, but the siege was a negation of natural justice.

UNI XR VV RL NS2049