The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Dinesh Mani clarifies stand

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Friday, Jun 29, 2007
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Kerala - Kochi

Dinesh Mani clarifies stand

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: C.M. Dinesh Mani, Palluruthy MLA, said that though his party CPI(M) was against the entry of corporates into the retail market, he inaugurated an outlet of Reliance in his constituency. He said in a statement here on Thursday that it was unfortunate that he had attended the inauguration.

Mr. Mani said that it was not a pre-determined programme and had attended the function after being persuaded by a friend, a former public sector chairman. He said he was busy attending to the people who were affected after seawater entered their homes at Chellanam. Mr. Mani said he had also been busy taking care of his daughter’s wedding arrangements and had failed to gather information about the function that he had been asked to attend.

Tenders apology

Deputy Mayor of Kochi Corporation C.K. Manisankar on Thursday tendered an apology to the public and merchants for inaugurating a vegetable stall by Reliance Group.

The apology comes in the light of the ongoing protest by the CPI(M) against multinationals such as Walmart and Indian corporate giants, including Birla and Reliance, taking control of the retail market, affecting the prospects of small-scale retailers, he said in a press release issued here.

Mr. Manishankar said he was asked by some friends, who had been providing support to the garbage treatment plant at Brahmapuram, to inaugurate their shop and he realised that it was a Reliance counter only on reaching the spot, the release said. He urged the Government to reinstate the control on corporates coming in, which was relaxed by the Union Government.

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