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Achuthanandan says he is studying Joseph issue

Special Correspondent

Sees nothing wrong in LDF stance on the issue

KOCHI: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan sees nothing wrong in the Left Democratic Front (LDF) constituents viewing the charges against Public Works Minister P.J. Joseph as `nothing serious' though he himself is `studying the issue' based on information available with him.

Participating in a Meet-the-Press of the Ernakulam Press Club on Thursday, Mr. Achuthanandan said it was rather strange that those who had been in power for five long years were now making a hue and cry against Mr. Joseph.

Asked about the "violence" at a black flag demonstration by Youth Congress leaders in Kozhikode recently, Mr. Achuthanandan said the people might be forced to react and `physically confront' the perpetrators of violence if they overreached themselves.

The Chief Minister said he was present at the venue and could not term it `a mere black flag demonstration' against the Minister. It was the demonstrators who started violent activities and the people present there had to react.

In his introductory remarks, the Chief Minister gave a pen portrait of the political scenario in the State and the onerous task of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government in rising up to the expectations of the people.

Answering a query, the Chief Minister said the formation of a Janakeeya Sena to help the police could not be ruled out.

In response to another question, he said Tmil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had promised all medical help to the jailed People's Democratic Party leader Abdul Nasir Maudany and to consider favourably the question of allowing his wife to visit him at jail.

He said the managements of self-financing colleges should honour the commitment given to the A. K. Antony Government and legislation would be brought to provide relief to the student community.

Regarding the Smart City project, the Chief Minister said similar projects were being discussed. The Smart City project might have gone to West Bengal, but bigger projects beneficial to the unemployed youth of the State would be encouraged after being convinced of the bona fides of the investors.

It was the strong opposition of the Left which highlighted the public ire against the recent fuel price hike. This had resulted in the Congress asking its State Governments to waive off the sales tax on fuel, Mr. Achuthanandan said.

He said the rumblings in the State Human Rights Commission would be solved.

`Not factionalism'

Asked about the so-called dissidence and divisions in the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Chief Minister said his party was one where all issues of local, national and international importance were discussed and there were many who held their own views on these matters.

Hence different opinions were natural though this could not be equated to the "slanging matches" in parties such as the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The `factionalism' in the Left was being propagated by vested interests and was a media creation, he added.

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