Kochi: The Chellanam Janakeeya Samithi, spearheading an agitation and fast demanding a comprehensive package for the construction of a seawall and breakwater system to protect the people of the region from tidal waves refused to allow former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Hibi Eden MLA, DCC President TJ Vinod and former MLA Dominic Presentation to address the people staging the agitation. Chandy and the other Congress leaders reached the place on Friday to have firsthand information of the situation in the coastal region in the wake of the Ockhi cyclone.
Chandy and Eden however later met a representative group of Samithi leaders separately to have a firsthand knowledge of the problems faced by the people. Chandy later told reporters that the demands of the people of Chellanam are genuine and he would take all possible steps to bring the same to the attention of the state government.
Samithi leaders said the former CM and the Congress leaders were denied permission to address the people for avoiding politicizing of the agitation. “We are very clear that political parties and leaders will not be allowed to use to the agitation for their partisan interests”, said Jervin Joseph secretary of the Samithi.
He said PC George MLA, who visited the struggle spot on Thursday, was also not allowed to address the people. The people did not conceal their resentment against former MLA Dominic Presentation for what they described as his inaction to solve the problems.
