The Hindu : New Delhi News : Congress leaders seek Central aid

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Friday, Aug 03, 2007
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Congress leaders seek Central aid

Special Correspondent

Critical of LDF move to stage dharna

Say LDF is trying to cover up its failure
Plea to relocate oil cargo terminal

NEW DELHI: Even as the Kerala leadership of the Congress on Thursday sought Central assistance to help the State deal with monsoon-related problems, it also “alerted” party president Sonia Gandhi about the Left Democratic Front’s attempt to turn it into a political battle.

Critical of the Kerala Cabinet’s decision to stage a dharna in the Capital to protest against the “step-motherly” treatment of the State by the Centre, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) leadership maintained that this was nothing but a political stunt since the State had not submitted a proper application for aid.

Led by Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, Oommen Chandy, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala, spokesman M.M. Hassan and former Minister K.C. Venugopal met Ms. Gandhi in the morning. They also met Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi. They also paid a courtesy call on President Pratibha Patil.

Later, briefing mediapersons about the meetings, Mr. Hassan said the State Government’s decision to stage a dharna in Delhi was nothing but a political move to cover up its own administrative failure.

“How can the Centre be accused of slighting Kerala when the State Government has not applied for Central assistance under the prescribed format as per the guidelines for the National Calamity Contingency Fund. It is to divert attention from this administrative lapse on the part of the Government that the LDF has decided to stage a dharna in the Capital under the leadership of the Chief Minister.”

At the meeting with Ms. Gandhi, the delegation also sought her intervention in relocating the Inland

Navigation Authority’s proposed Oil Cargo Terminal from the finishing point of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race as it would affect the over 50-year-old annual event.

Terminal project

Clarifying that they were not against the project, the delegation said their only demand was that it be relocated so that the race is not affected.

As for the Authority’s proposal that it would divert traffic for the duration of the race, Mr. Venugopal – who represents Alappuzha where the race is held – said this would be of no use as preparations take more than a month.

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