The Hindu : Kerala News : `Governance hit by factional feud in Congress'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 17, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

`Governance hit by factional feud in Congress'

From A Correspondent

NEDUMBASSERY, MARCH. 16. The Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, today said he did not foresee a split in the Congress. The ongoing factional fight within the Congress was with a view to imposing the influence of a few persons, he said.

Talking to reporters at the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery, he said due to the ruling party's pre-occupation with factional feuds, the State Government had failed to exercise its influence with the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre to secure just demands of the State.

This had resulted in the Twelfth Finance Commission's drastic cut in Plan outlay for Kerala by more than Rs. 8,000 crores.

He pointed out that the effect of Eleventh Finance Commission's outlay, which had cut the Plan size by Rs. 3,600 crores, during the National Democratic Alliance Government was less severe.

Mr. Achuthanandan said the Government was yet to act on the promises given to the Opposition on paddy procurement when the fast by Opposition members was withdrawn. Though the Government says that paddy procurement is progressing, the farmers are far from satisfied.

He said the Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, had informed him that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was prepared to buy the rice produced from the paddy procured by the State civil supplies corporation. He said Mr. Pawar had written to the State Government on this proposal.

According to him, the assurance given by the Agriculture Ministry should enable the cooperatives involved in paddy procurement to go ahead with the process.

The State Government can also distribute the rice produced from the paddy procured by the civil supplies corporation through the public distribution system, he said.

He said the change in guard at the helm of the Forest Ministry had not in any way reduced the dominance enjoyed by the forest mafia while ganja cultivation was widespread in Mathikettan and Pooyamkutty forests.

Accusing the State Government of doing nothing to implement the High Court order to close down 24 illegal sandalwood factories functioning in the State, Mr. Achuthanandan said that sandalwood from the Marayur forest was still being brought to these factories.

Most of these factories remain locked from outside, but the work is going on uninterrupted inside, he said.

Reacting to the CPI general secretary, A.B. Bardhan's statement that the CPI was for unification of Indian communist movements and not just a mere merger with the CPI (M), Mr. Achuthanandan said it was not possible to have any organisational unification or merger as long as differences in policy and ideological issues persisted.

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