Kerala - Palakkad   

JD(S) faction hits out at CPI(M)

PALAKKAD: Office-bearers of the Perumatty grama panchayat and leaders of the Janata Dal (S) faction that rules the civic body have alleged that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is trying to divide the Anti-Coca-Cola Agitation Committee for political gains.

Addressing mediapersons here on Monday, district panchayat member Murukadas, Perumatty grama panchayat president Risha Prem Kumar, former panchayat president A. Krishnan and Chittur block panchayat president Sharmila Rajan claimed that it was due to the strong stand taken by their party [Janata Dal (S) faction] and the Perumatty grama panchayat that the licence of the Coca-Cola bottling plant at Plachimada [in the panchayat area] was cancelled, resulting in its closure in 2004.

They said that while their party and the panchayat took on the soft drink giant Coca-Cola at Perumatty, the CPI(M) which was ruling the Pudussery grama panchayat did not take any action against the Pepsi plant there despite demands from various quarters for its closure. Now, the Anti-Coca-Cola Agitation Committee led by Vilayodi Venugopal and the CPI(M) are claiming that it was due to their agitation that the Coca-Cola unit at Plachimada was closed down. This is far from true.

The leaders denied that Janata Dal (S) activists had assaulted Mr. Venugopal and burnt down the agitation shed at Plachimada in the district last week.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

JD(S) faction hits out at CPI(M)
Pond filling costs Palakkad dear
Dance, music fete ends
Murder: victim's mother identifies accused

Copyright © 2010, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu