— Photo: S. Mahinsha

ASSURANCE TO STATE: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Union Minister Vayalar Ravi and Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Kerala's formation in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Lauding Kerala for its excellent track record in welfare and human development, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged the State's political leadership to evolve a consensus for development and explore new avenues of economic growth and employment generation "so that every Keralite can live up to her or his full potential."

"Your creativity, your enterprise, your skills and hard work have won you laurels across the world and across our vast nation. Kerala has progressed a great deal in these past 50 years. I hope the next century will be Kerala's century," the Prime Minister said while inaugurating the celebrations to mark the golden jubilee of Kerala's formation at a colourful function here on Wednesday.

The Centre would consider favourably the State's demand for setting up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and an Institute of Science Education and Research in Kerala.

Dr. Singh said he would ask the Education Minister to pay special attention to the State's demands. Earlier in the day, Dr. Singh laid the foundation stone for the new international terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and the maintenance base of Air-India.

Presiding over the golden jubilee celebrations, Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan said the State Government was planning a series of development initiatives as part of the celebrations.

Karunakaran denied entry

The former Chief Minister of Kerala, K.Karunakaran, was denied entry into the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium where the celebrations were on.

Mr. Karunakaran's car was first blocked near the Raj Bhavan and later at the Corporation Office.

He had to gain access to the venue via the PMG junction. On arrival, he was directed to the VIP entrance, but officials manning it declared closed.

When contacted, Mr. Karunakaran said he had nothing to say about the incident other than express distress at the way the cultural ethos of Kerala was changing.

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