UPA government's achievements not highlighted: Oommen Chandy

Kottayam (Ker), Mar 16: Targeting the media,

Chief Minister

on Sunday said corruption charges against

Government received more attention than its achievements and asserted the ruling combine would retain power at the Centre after the Lok Sabha polls.

"Media also became a part in highlighting allegations of corruption against UPA government and even attempts were made to tarnish the Prime Minister's Office", Chandy said at a meet the press programme here. Dismissing pre-poll surveys that the going would not be good for the UPA, he said the country made good economic progress under the UPA Government and in Kerala, Congress-led UDF was going to the people with confidence.

Country could overcome the impact of global economic meltdown due to UPA Government's good governance and its policies, he said. Food Security Act, Right to Education and Right to Information were some of the highlights of UPA's achievements, he said.

Referring to the thin majority of UDF in the Assembly, he said in the initial days, stability of the UDF government was an issue for talks, but now it has become a non-issue.

To a question on AICC spokesperson P C Chacko's remark that situation in the country was not in favour of Congress, he said it had not appeared in the media the way he intended to say. Chacko himself had stated this. To a question, he said new Coastal Regulation Zone Act was a concern to the people living in the coastal areas of the state.

Referring to Idukki Bishop Mathew Anikuzhikattil'a outburst against Idukki Congress candidate Dean Kuriakose yesterday, he said, "Congress is a democratic party. Anyone can criticise us. Congress has the courage and tolerance to accept criticism".

The Bishop had made certain critical remark against UDF government and Congress when Kuriakose met him yesterday to receive his blessings as part of poll campaign.

PTI