LDF hartal in Idukki district tomorrow
The LDF will observe dawn to dusk hartal in the district on October 18 to protest against the objectionable clauses in the revised report of the Madhav Gadgil Committee, which the Centre has decided to implement. “The UDF government, which had promised to protect the interests of the people of the district, has cheated the people on the issue,” CPM district secretary K K Jayachandran MLA said.
The Centre’s decision to accept the suggestions made by the Kasturirangan Committee is owing to the UDF government’s lackadaisical attitude on the matter, he told ‘Express’. “Implementation of the report will bring 24 villages in the district under the environmentally sensitive zone, where habitation will not be permitted, he added. The High Range Samrakshana Samiti has also decided to support the hartal to draw the attention of the Centre on the matter, samiti general convener Fr Sebastian Kochupurackal said. The Kasturirangan Committee was formed to review the rigid suggestions made by the Madhav Gadgil Committee after there was widespread protest over the Gadgil report, he said. ENS