THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While former KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran expressed solidarity with Vayalkilikal at Keezhattur, Kannur strongman K. Sudhakaran is yet to take a call on the anti-bypass struggle. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said they were not against development, but the government should have initiated talks with protesters first. Just hours before their protest march, 'Kerala to Keezhattur' reached Keezhattur on Sunday, Mr Sudheeran who had always taken a firm stand against National Highway development affecting people, visited them.
He was accompanied by RSP leader Shibu Baby John, senior Congress leader Benny Behanan and Mr Sudhakaran. While Mr Sudheeran told reporters that he is against the land acquisition at the 250-acre paddy field, Mr Sudhakaran was non-committal. Mr Sudheeran later told DC that his stand had always been firm that neither the Union nor the state government has bothered to understand the plight of local communities bearing the brunt of the development. "Irrespective of governments, they never bother to undertake the social impact study or the environmental study. As long as the LDF government does not take the people into confidence and lacks transparency, this issue will not subside," he said.
Mr Chennithala said Mr Sudhakaran could not take an open stand without discussing it in the UDF. "There are no differences in the UDF," he told DC. "The UDF is never against development. From the day one, we demand to call the people for talks." With the Assembly session going on, UDF has decided to call the next meeting on April 3 at his Cantonment House residence.
