The Hindu : Kerala News : `Media syndicate' a ploy: Chandy

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Sunday, Apr 01, 2007
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Kerala

`Media syndicate' a ploy: Chandy

Special Correspondent

Says VS showing intolerance to criticism against Government's functioning

Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy has said Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan are raising the ``media syndicate'' issue to cover up the failure of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government and the schism in the party.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Mr. Chandy said the ``media syndicate'' issue was deliberately created; but the two leaders had different interpretations about the so-called media lobby.

The Chief Minister was showing intolerance to the criticisms against his Government's functioning. The schism in the party had become a headache to its leaders, he said.

Mr. Chandy said the Chief Minister's reply to a question in the Assembly on ``media syndicate'' was unusual. There was no clarity in his reply and he referred to its international ramifications. He skirted the issue of whether the Union Government should be informed of such issues.

The media had criticised the United Democratic Front (UDF) Government's functioning during the five years it was in power. It had covered in detail the factionalism in the party.

But the CPI(M), which did not display any kind of intolerance that time, had now turned against the media.

RCGB row

Mr. Chandy wanted the Chief Minister to clarify why there was an exorbitant delay in taking decision on handing over the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB).

The centre had lost Rs.30 crores in Central allocation owing to the State Government's failure to take timely decision.

The LDF Government had considerably reduced the budgetary funds for the institution after it came to power. Mr. Chandy criticised the Government's decision to celebrate the 50th jubilee of the E.M.S. Namboodiripad ministry and make it a big event.

He said the State was on the throes of a major drought and drinking water shortage.

More funds sought

The Government should earmark more funds to solve the problem that would affect the people directly instead of spending huge amounts on ostentatious functions.

The Opposition would not cooperate with the jubilee celebrations, he said.

Mr. Chandy said the LDF Government had violated legislative precedent while pushing through the resolution in the Assembly criticising a Palakkad court for issuing an arrest warrant against Electricity Minister A.K. Balan and the CPI(M) MLA M. Chandran. He said the content of the resolution was a secondary issue.

The important point was that the rules and procedures of the House had been given the go by the ruling front, Mr. Chandy alleged.

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