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Chandy: Plan finalised before LDF decision on ADB loan

Special Correspondent

Hits out at Achuthanandan for feigning ignorance on ADB issue

Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy on Friday said the State's annual Plan that was finalised recently in the presence of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Planning Commission officials included the ADB [Asian Development Bank] loan component. The Plan discussions were held in New Delhi much before the Left Democratic Front's decision to accept the loan, Mr. Chandy said at a press conference here.

Hitting out at the Chief Minister for feigning ignorance about the processing of the ADB loan package, Mr. Chandy said Mr. Achuthanandan had taken an extreme position while he was Leader of the Opposition. The then Opposition led extraordinary agitations against the ADB loan, even resorting to attacks against officials. Reading out Mr. Achuthanandan's statements opposing the ADB loan as Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Chandy said Mr. Achuthanandan was in the know of things because several issues related to the loan came up before him and the Cabinet for a decision. These included appointment of a special officer and creation of posts. The Chief Minister was in New Delhi on December 8 when the State Government signed the draft agreement. The Resident Commissioner who signed the draft agreement on behalf of the State set off for the signing ceremony from the Chief Minister's room and returned directly to the same place after signing the document, Mr. Chandy said.

Contesting the LDF's claim that it had agreed to the loan proposal after amending certain anti-people provisions, Mr. Chandy said neither did the Chief Minister nor the Local Administration Minister held a single discussion on the urban sustainable project with the ADB after the LDF assumed power. A junior ADB official visited the State, but this could not be considered official because he did not have decision-making powers. Mr. Chandy said no change had been made to the draft agreement signed on November 14, 2005 and during a high-level discussion in Manila from February 28 to March 4, 2006. And the provisions that the LDF wanted to do away with, it could not because the five LDF-ruled Corporations opposed such a move.

Mr. Chandy also did not spare the Communist Party of India leader Veliyam Bhargavan for his prevaricating stance on the LDF. He said the Revenue Minister who belonged to the CPI did not have any difficulty in implementing schemes for tsunami victims with ADB loan assistance. The State had lost five precious years of development owing to the LDF's unjustified agitations. "We whole-heartedly welcome the LDF decision. The UDF is of the firm opinion that the ADB loan is necessary for the development of basic infrastructure of the five Corporations,'' Mr. Chandy said.

Boat tragedy

On the Thattekkad boat tragedy, Mr. Chandy said the Chief Minister's attempt to put the blame on the previous UDF Government for its failure to implement the Narayana Kurup Commission's recommendations was unfortunate. He said the Government had submitted an action taken report while tabling the commission's report in the Assembly. The LDF Government did practically nothing during the nine months it was in power. Moreover, the boat owner, according to reports, had secured the license after influencing the CPI (M) leadership, he said.

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