Kannur: The CPM in Kannur expelled 11 party workers for participating in what has come to be known as the Keezhattoor agitation to protest an advancing road project from passing through a pristine paddy field.
The party, however, termed it an anti-party activity, and felt the explanation given by the party members were not satisfactory. Of the 11 workers, only two had given explanation to the leadership over their involvement in the agitation.
Out of the expelled party workers, nine are from Keezhattoor central branch and two are from Keezhattoor north branch. The 20-day fast ‘Save Paddy’ agitation was called off after their discussion with PWD Minister G. Sudhakaran in Thiruvananthapuram. The minister had assured that the road will not be allowed to move through the paddy land.
An expert committee constituted by National Highway Authority engineers and environmental activists was also planned to find out another alignment without damaging the ecosystem and saving the maximum number of houses from the bypass diversion. The expelling of the party workers came as a shock, when the strike was moving to a conciliation.
