Munnar action: Ignore dissents, CPI to minister E Chandrashekharan

Thiruvananthapuram: After CPI executive, the state council of the party has also asked revenue minister E Chandrashekharan to continue with the anti-encroachment drives in Munnar ignoring the opposition from different quarters. The two-day state council meeting which began at M.N. Smarakam here discussed a host of issues including Munnar. The council members felt that the drive undertaken by the revenue minister had received wider support from the people and the officials should not succumb to any kind of pressure.

The CPI has expressed strong reservation over the manner in which CPM was trying to interfere with the revenue department’s activities in Munnar. It also accused the CPM of pressurising and threatening honest officials who are implementing the LDF government’s resolve against encroachments. The council ratified the executive direction to speed up pattayam distribution work. Immediate steps need to be taken to distribute title deeds to all people who possessed land before 1.1.1977.

CPI leadrship lauded Chandashekharan and revenue officials for carrying out the anti encroachment drive in Munnar despite physical assault and all kinds of threats from various quarters. CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran will announce the decisions taken at the state executive and state council meetings at a press conference on Friday. He is likely to utilise the opportunity to respond to the CPM allegations that CPI had stepped up criticism against LDF government to prepare the ground for an understanding with the Congress. The CPI state secretary might also respond to the allegations that his party was not keen on removing big encroachments including that of the Tata.