THRISSUR: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday urged the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to propose an alternative to the Smart City Project in Kochi.

Addressing a meet-the-press programme, organised by the Thrissur Press Club, Mr. Chandy said the LDF, which unjustifiably opposed the Smart City project, was obliged to tell the people which aspects of the project or clauses in the agreement were harmful to the interests of the State.

"Does the LDF have an alternative suggestion? Details of the agreement have been posted on the web. Anyone can verify them. The Dubai Internet City is not a private company, but an initiative linked to the Dubai Government. The Smart City scheme will project Kerala as a place ideal for investment and industrial development. Torpedoing the project will also affect the Dubai Government's goodwill towards Kerala,'' he said.

The Chief Minister alleged that the policies and agendas of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were not the same in West Bengal and Kerala. "To push development, the CPI(M) Government in West Bengal has made available 4,000 acres to a private group, whereas the Kerala unit of the party is criticising the move to grant 100 acres for creation of jobs. The CPI(M) in West Bengal has realised the need for private capital and foreign investment. The LDF, on the other hand, still continues its antediluvian agitation methods and maintains its anti-development stand,'' Mr. Chandy said.

He said that the State's share in IT exports was merely 0.5 per cent of the national figure. "Karnataka annually earns Rs. 35,000 crore from IT exports, whereas Kerala does only Rs. 500 crore. Yet, projects such as Smart City, which are expected to put us in the big league, are being opposed by the LDF.''

Objects to Karat's remark

The Chief Minister took exception to the statement by CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat that the UDF's development claims were meaningless, especially when the State's agriculture sector was crisis-ridden.

"When the LDF ruled, farmers were out of work and agricultural produce fetched low prices. On the other hand, there was 1.7 per cent growth in the agriculture sector during the UDF regime. Under UDF, the State witnessed 9.2 per cent overall growth.''

Mr. Chandy said that exit polls, which could influence voters when elections were held in a phased manner, were being handled with vested interests.

He alleged that the motive of the Left that threatened to withdraw support to the United Progressive Alliance Government after the Assembly elections was suspect. "The Left had supported UPA to check the Bharatiya Janata Party.''

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