CPI state secretary Pannian Raveendran on Tuesday criticised the UDF Government for its stand on the controversial Aranmula airport project issue, alleging that the government’s decision was a challenge to the existing land rules in the state.
The statements of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash that the government would go ahead with the proposed airport project in Aranmula were only to protect the interests of the land mafia, he said.
He said the move to give exemption to the excess land would be a big blow to the Land Reforms Act. ‘’The government, by helping the private company, will only pull back the basic achievements of the state. The Kerala Land Reforms Act, which was included in the ninth schedule of the Constitution, was a landmark piece of legislation which paved the way for the development of the state,’’ Raveendran said.
The CPI leader also alleged that the company which proposed to construct the airport had floated many other laws apart from the Land Reforms Act.
‘’The government should desist from the move to help the land mafia in the state. If the government moves ahead against the interests of the state, it would have to face strong agitation,’’ Raveendran said.
He said that the Revenue officials who had taken action against the law breakers were transferred from their respective posts.