Kottayam: Some unidentified persons allegedly tried to demolish the pandal where volunteers of Pompilai Orumai were conducting a hunger stir at Munnar at around 10.30 pm on Thursday night. Gomathy Augustine, the leader of the movement, alleged that the CPM is behind the move. When this report is being filed, the police personnel are trying to protect the venue.
The demolition move was after the Pompilai Orumai leaders asked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to keep away from the strike scene as its leader, C.R. Neelakandan who was fasting with Gomathy and Kausalya, was shifted to a hospital by 9 pm on Thursday after his health condition deteriorated. Meanwhile, AAP leaders said that they would not back out, as they had joined it from the beginning.
BJP alleges fresh encroachments
BJP district President N Hari alleged that new encroachments and construction activities were happening in places including Kokahala medu, Thangal Para and Vakachuvadu in the Koottikkal panchayath in the context of the Munnar evictions.
Speaking to reporters at Kottayam, Mr Hari said that in a number of places, the land mafia had possessed lands and now farming was not possible. “The government should immediately investigate how the title deeds of these lands were embezzled by the land mafia where farming is not possible by any means,” he said.
"Till this date, the lands were not ploughed by the JCB or by other means. In this context, the government should investigate and take proper action after finding out who gave them permission to conduct construction activities at these places”, BJP district president N Hari told reporters. The BJP would conduct a march to the place where illegal construction activities were taking place at Kolahala Medu.
Kummanam visits Munnar Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is at variance with the controversial statement of power minister M. M. Mani, said BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan. The CPM had conceded Mr Mani's mistake while Mr Vijayan continues to justify him, he said speaking at a protest meeting of the BJP in Munnar town on Thursday in solidarity with the 'Pompilai Orumai', which is on a hunger strike demanding his resignation. The hunger stir has entered third day today. He asked the chief minister to explain why the CPM censured him publicly if he had committed no mistake.
