Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Government will repent: Chandy

Staff Reporter

`Goondas behind withdrawal of Act'

PATHANAMTHITTA: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy has come down heavily on the State Government for withdrawing the Kerala Felonious Activities (Prevention) Act, better known as the goonda Act.

Talking to presspersons at Pullad near Kozhencherry on Thursday, Mr. Chandy alleged that certain `goondas' having strong political clout were behind the withdrawal of the Ordinance. He said the Ordinance got lapsed on Wednesday and the Government would repent on the decision soon.

He said the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) Government had made a lot of homework in drafting the Ordinance, taking extra care to check its misuse in future. The Ordinance was drafted in such a way that only habitual criminals could be brought under its ambit, he said.

Mr. Chandy said that it would not be easy to include the new Kerala Professional Colleges Act in its present form in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. He called upon the Government to make its stand clear on the admissions to various self-financing professional colleges in the present academic year.

Mr. Chandy said the previous UDF Government had ordered a CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation] probe into the Kiliroor sex racket case following a request to that effect from the parents of the victim. He said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government should look into the complaints of the parents of the victim regarding the findings of the CBI.

Regarding the decision of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to accept the master plan for Sabarimala prepared by Ecosmart India Limited, Mr. Chandy said Sabarimala development suffered due to the inordinate delay on the part of the TDB in accepting the master plan prepared by the Delhi-based agency.

He said the UDF Government had taken sincere initiatives in getting the mandatory Central clearance for the forest land required for implementing various development projects in Sabarimala and Nilackal.

Ecosmart is a credible agency recognised by the Union Government and the TDB was reluctant to accept the Delhi-based agency because it was appointed by the State Government, Mr. Chandy said.

DCC president K. Sivadasan Nair, MLA, vice-president P. Mohanraj and AICC member Peelipose Thomas were also present.

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