VS blames Task Force for Munnar debacle

KATTAPPANA: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan has blamed the top officials of the Munnar Task Force for the failure of its operations in 2007. He was speaking to reporters at a press meet in Kattappana on Friday.According to the Opposition leader, the failure of the Munnar Task Force was because of the policies of some top officials, who were against the interests of the people. “Some top officials in the Munnar Task Force stood against the party offices in Munnar which created controversies. This is the prime reason behind the failure of the Task Force,” he said.He said that even the High Court supported the government regarding Munnar eviction. So no one could say it was a wrong step taken by the LDF Government. In Munnar, the government was against the land mafia which illegally encroached upon land and constructed resorts without any permission from the government. The LDF Government had targeted only such persons and the interests of farmers and poor people were protected. He said that the UDF Government should also stand strong against the land mafia. Later, addressing people at Marikulam, near Upputhara, in the wake of the 50th anniversary of the Amaravathi hunger strike, he said that the people who were evicted for the major projects should get proper compensation. He hit hard at the UDF Government’s education policies in which licence to start more private primary schools were granted this year. He said that by giving licence to more private schools, the children of the poor would be denied their basic right to education.He expressed concern over the private practice of government medical professors. According to him, the LDF Government had hiked the salary and allowances to prevent the private practice of medical professors. But the UDF Government had allowed private practice which would affect the government medical colleges adversely.He added that the Congress leaders and the Chief Minister were after the Muslim League leaders to keep the government stable. If the UDF Government continued its anti-people policies, a mass protest would be launched.