THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress in the state has demanded the Left government to request the Centre for a CBI inquiry into the possession of lakhs of acres of government land by private holders.
The report, submitted by M G Rajamanickam regarding plantations in the state, has clearly mentioned that foreign companies are holding vast acres of land in the state.
It is against this backdrop that the state should demand the Centre for a CBI inquiry, KPCC president V M Sudheeran said in a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
He also alleged the government has delayed in taking action based on the report. The government was not taking any steps for taking back the land under illegal possession of big corporates. There are allegations of nexus between the companies and the government, he said, and added that the government should never delay in taking action.
He also alleged that there were reports that the chief minister had held discussions with a plantation major. Even there are reports that the plantation major had asked the chief minister to intervene in issues related to them and help them get possession certificate and give permission for remitting land tax.
In the report, it has been pointed out that private holders, including British companies, still hold valuable land in the state that comes to an extent of about five lakh acres. Moreover, these companies have also sold vast extent of government land in their occupation by challenging the state and its various laws.