KANNUR: BJP state president Kumanam Rajasekharan has said that the stand taken by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with regard to the Athirapilly and Mullaperiyar was suspicious and incomprehensible. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the victory march of BJP leader O Rajagopal. Kumanam, along with Rajagopal and other leaders, paid floral tributes at the memorial of party leader K G Marar on Tuesday.
Kummanam said that the Industries Minister had already taken a decision to invite multinational companies to the state and the CM’s statement on Athirapilly and Mullaperiyar came following this. He expressed surprise that a project which may bring about a lot of environmental problems was announced without even consulting the stakeholders. Whether the announced project is of the LDF or the government is not clear, he said and added that the CPI, the main alliance partner, was against the project.
The people of Kerala want a change through the third alternative force, NDA led by BJP, he said. Rajagopal said governance should be based on the path of virtue and morality to bring social justice to all people without looking at the group or party. He also said the people of Kerala had answered to the anti-people comments made by senior Congress leader A K Antony and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan that they would not allow the BJP to open an account in Kerala Assembly.
A reception was accorded to MLA designate O Rajagopal at Pattambi here on Tuesday evening. Rajagopal had arrived from Kannur and was accorded receptions at various centres along the route.
Talks with TN should be based on Kerala safety, says P J Joseph
Idukki: Even as welcoming Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s proposed talks over Mullaperiyar issue with Tamil Nadu, former Water Resources Minister P J Joseph said the same should be based on the safety of Kerala. He also said the former could have studied expert committee reports before taking a stance that the 121-year-old dam is not weak. The Chief Minister’s present statement would help Tamil Nadu indirectly. The Thodupuzha MLA also remembered how SC-appointed expert committee member Justice K T Thomas’ stance that the Mullaperiyar dam is safe went against Kerala’s interest in the case, during a press conference in Thodupuzha here on Tuesday. He also hoped that there would not be any going back from the demand for a new dam.
‘Devpt should be based on virtue’
Rajagopal said governance should be based on the path of virtue and morality to bring social justice to all people without looking at the group or party. Rajagopal also said the people of Kerala had answered to the anti-people comments made by senior Congress leader A K Antony and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan that they would not allow the BJP to open an account in Kerala Assembly. Around 30 lakh votes were polled for the BJP in the state. Apart from winning a seat, the party also managed to finish runner-up in seven constituencies by pushing the UDF or the LDF to third spot. This is an evident sign that the people of Kerala want a third front by throwing out the UDF and LDF, Rajagopal added.