CM to lead 'Parliament march' over farmers' package issue

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 29 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan will lead a demonstration to Parliament on October 17, the opening day of the Session, to press for the implementation of farmers' package for Idukki as recommended by the M S Swaminathan Commission.

Though the Centre had approved the Rs 1,840-crore 'Kuttanad Package,' recommended by the Commission, the 'Idukki Package' was yet to be implemented, Left Democratic Front (LDF) Convener Vaikom Viswam told mediapersons here after a meeting of the LDF.

State Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly and Parliament would take part in the march against the Centre's ''delay'' in implementing the package, Mr Viswam said and added that demonstrations would be held in all district headquarters in the state.

''Though Kerala is a food deficit state, the Centre has cut its quota on rice. Despite the state's demand for restoring the food quota, the Centre has taken an adamant stand,'' Mr Viswam said.

On the controversial Special Economic Zones (SEZs) issue, he said the State Government would bring out a policy regarding the SEZs, but no legislation for controlling its activities, as demanded by the coalition partner, the CPI.

''The decision regarding SEZ was taken in the last LDF meeting and there is no change in that,'' he added.

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