Thiruvanananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will soon convene a meeting of trade union leaders to discuss issues like ‘nokku kooli’ that affect the investment climate in the state. Mr Vijayan who said this in the Assembly on Monday accused the CPI-controlled AIYF for the recent suicide of Sugathan, a Gulf returnee in Punalur, and said, “the practice of political parties erecting flags to disrupt development activities should end. There is also a tendency among trade union leaders to oppose new projects by raising demand for jobs for their cadres,” Mr Vijayan said replying to the notice for an adjournment motion given by Mr Adoor Prakash (Cong) on Sugathan’s suicide after the AIYF activists objected to the construction of a workshop by him at Punalur allegedly in a paddy field-levelled land.
The Opposition staged a walkout after the speaker denied permission for the motion. The Opposition demanded a probe by a special investigation team into Sugathan's death and a financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh to his family. Mr Vijayan said, “it is high time the trade unions supported new ventures. A meeting of all trade unions would be convened soon to address these issues. The state government is committed to ensure ease of doing business,” he said.
The police case was that Sugathan committed suicide after the AIYF activists obstructed the construction of his workshop by erecting party flags at the site. Three accused had been held and slapped with abetment of suicide charges. Efforts were on to nab the other accused, he said. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala said that Sugathan’s family had alleged that the CPI-AIYF local leadership had sought a bribe of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 63,000 was given by pledging gold. He also asked why the CPI was not taking action against the accused.
Irked at this, Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunilkumar of the CPI said that the allegation was baseless. He also charged the UDF with the practice of taking bribes. This triggered noisy protests by the UDF MLAs. Forest Minister K. Raju, who represents Punalur constituency, admitted that the plot where the workshop was being constructed was paddy field many years ago and was converted earlier itself. Also, many other establishments like a wedding hall and hospital were also functioning nearby. Pathanapuram MLA K.B. Ganesh Kumar said that the intention behind erecting flags was to get bribes. Kerala Congress (M) leader K.M. Mani and BJP MLA O. Rajagopal also staged a walkout over the issue.
