The attempt by CPI(ML) activists to raise huts on the controversial Bolgatty land on Monday was prevented by the police. The activists organised a march to the site, protesting against the alleged real estate interests involved in the deal as well as violation of international conventions like Ramsar, which deals with significant wetlands. The march that started from the high court was blocked by police near Bolgatty island and eight volunteers were arrested.
Speaking to the Express, C G Biju, district secretary of the CPI(ML) said, “The party will combine the legal fight and the people’s struggle to resist the attempt to give away the prime land to MK Group, a private MNC. Since the Vemabanad lake is included in Ramsar convention, we will try exploring legal options in international terrains also. We will form a large alliance of landless people, workers and other affected parties”.
He also accused that mainstream parties are taking an anti-people stance in the name of supporting development. “The mainstream parties including mainstream Left are taking a wrong position about the developmental perspective. They are not addressing the crisis faced by petty shop owners with the advent of international capital in the retail sector. Similarly, they are not addressing the issues related to ecological exploitation unleashed by corporate capital”, he said.
Biju added that projects like Bolgatty will negatively affect the livelihood prospects of fish workers. He also added that an intense struggle will be organised to protest against the well engineered attempts to sabotage Kochi Port Trust.
