Kerala - Alappuzha   

Congress politicising a natural calamity: VS

ALAPPUZHA: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has come down heavily on the Congress-led Opposition for politicising the natural calamity in the State, which set back the agriculture sector by at least Rs.70 crore.

Inaugurating a meeting commemorating the death of Communist stalwarts E.M.S. Namboodiripad and A.K. Gopalan here on Saturday, Mr. Achuthanandan said the summer rain that wreaked havoc across the State was the first of its kind in the last 50 years. However, the Opposition led by Oommen Chandy was hiding facts and misleading the public by weaving false stories on resistance of labourers to machinery in the agriculture sector.

Agriculture Minister Mullakara Ratnakaran, Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran and the Chief Minister himself had directly interacted with farmers in Kuttanad, but save a few farmers, none complained about machinery not being allowed. On the contrary, farmers were blaming the rain and at the same time, lauding the government for extending timely help, Mr. Achuthanandan said.

Accusing the Congress of attempting to create fissures between farmers and farm labourers, Mr. Achuthanandan wanted to know why the Congress was raising the machinery issue in Alappuzha alone, when heavier agricultural damage had occurred in Thrissur and other areas of the State. Further, the Congress was not making any effort to secure assistance from the Centre.

The Chief Minister also wondered how soon the Centre would send expert teams to assess the damage here. “The usual practice is that their teams come after everything is over. Then they go back and report that all is fine, resulting in a scanty assistance from the Centre,” he said.

Citing land agitations in certain pockets of the State, Mr. Achuthanandan said these were being masterminded by the Congress. “When they ruled, they did not have the courage to take on the land mafia. Now, when we are trying to reclaim land and distribute it to the poor, they are raising obstacles,” he said.

Recalling the historic agitations led by EMS and AKG, Mr. Achuthanandan said the present generation had to learn from the principles, thoughts and actions of these leaders.

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