The Opposition LDF on Monday boycotted an all-party meeting on ‘Emerging Kerala’, an investment meet to be held in Kochi, convened by the State Government here on Monday.
Explaining the Opposition stand against the Emerging Kerala, Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan said in a statement here that the same Chief Minister and the same Industries Minister had organised ‘GIM’ (Global Investors Meet) during the previous UDF Government’s time but it failed to bring in any industry to the state despite much fanfare.
He alleged that the GIM was aimed at making way for the real estate mafia and facilitating the ‘plundering’ of Kerala’s natural resources. Under the cover of the GIM, large-scale reclamation of paddy field and water bodies was carried out.
It was against this backdrop that a Bill was passed to set apart five per cent of the plantation land for other purposes, the statement said.
The Opposition Leader alleged that the Emerging Kerala was the second edition of GIM, which prompted the Opposition to boycott the meet.