Kannur: The agitation in Keezhattoor, near Taliparamba against the disruption of land and homes of people affected by land acquisition for national highway expansion, has triggered more spat.
This has come about as the Congress and the BJP have taken sides with the agitators and come out against the CPM's spirited advocacy for acquisition of private land for the road project.
Earlier the Congress had taken the stand that although they realize the disruptions the new road works may cause to the people, they did not take it up as a party cause since it would hamper development in the end. However, later as the agitation was ruthlessly suppressed by the government, accompanied by alleged attacks by CPM workers on pro-strike locals and activists, the Congress declared that it would throw its weight behind the strike.
More recently, a further controversy has erupted after the house of the agitation leader Suresh Keezhattoor was stoned. CPM leaders including state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and party leader MV Govindan both accused the BJP-RSS of conducting the attack. The BJP, however, has denied having any role in the act. BJP Kannur District secretary P Satyaprakash said that his party had nothing to gain from the attack, when in fact the BJP was in support of the protest.
Kodiyeri charged that RSS and BJP were trying to create mutiny in the name of the agitation. He further alleged that the parties causing trouble in Keezhatttoor were RSS, SDPI and Maoists.
The CPM leader added that the idea of elevated track could be considered for the project. At a function at AKG Centre in connection with observing AKG day, he further commented that the government would co-operate with the Central Government if it wanted to build an elevated bridge. The bypass project is of the central National High Away Authority, and the State government was only involved in acquiring the land and handing it over. Just because there was a Nandigram, all development projects could not be dropped. If the government backs out from such projects, opponents would grab votes with the argument that during CPM regime no development took place. That was partly what happened in Tripura. Therefore, he requested, those who have misgivings should correct them and come back.
The attack on Suresh's house took place in the early hours of Thursday with stones pelted at it which broke the window panes. A gang who arrived on motor bike is alleged to have caused the damage. Although the CCTV camera nearby could identify the bike, the attackers could not be identified from the image.
Meanwhile, the Central Minister for Environment Harshavardhan said today that he would intervene seriously in the matter of the bypass after studying all the facts. He gave this assurance to delegation led by BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan.
The delegation requested the minister to study the environmental impact from the reclamation of 250 acres of farmland. They also alleged that the CPM was hand in glove with sand mafia and contractors. The BJP leadership demanded that even if all the farmers with land there agree to hand over their land, the reclamation of land should not be permitted.