The Hindu : Kerala News : Apology sought from Minister

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Friday, Apr 27, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Apology sought from Minister

Staff Reporter

Kochi: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary Kodikunnil Suresh has demanded a public apology from Forest Minister Benoy Viswom for "abusing" the Idukki District Collector A.J. Rajan who belongs to the Scheduled Caste community.

At a press conference, the KPCC general secretary and K.K.Manoj, Adivasi Congress State president, alleged that the Minister had abused the Idukki Collector when the former visited the area to enquire about the reported encroachment on Government land.

They said that action under the law relating to prevention of atrocities against Scheduled Caste members should be initiated against the Minister. They also urged the scheduled castes organisations to boycott the functions of the Forest Minister until he apologised for his abusive remarks against the Collector. They alleged that this was the latest incident in a series of such atrocities being made against the Scheduled Caste officials by the Ministers. He said that if the Collector failed to take action against the encroachers in the district, disciplinary action should be taken against him, instead of abusing him.

He also said that the Government should give up the proposed Athirappilly hydroelectric project. If the project was implemented, many tribal people would be affected.

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