KOZHIKODE: CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan tried to belittle the protests against the SilverLine project saying that even if protesters take away all the survey stones laid for the project, the demarcation survey will be taken forward by bringing stones from other states. He added that the government would not surrender before such protests.
Speaking to media persons at Malappuram on Tuesday, Balakrishnan said that what was going on against the K-Rail project was a political stir and it would be countered by LDF politically. "Let them conduct agitations at all places. Even if they take away the stones, there won't be any shortage of stones in the state. Even if there are no stones left in the state, we will bring stones from other states and will conduct the laying of survey stones. The government will not surrender before such protests," he said.
"You all would have seen the protests staged yesterday. The protesters laid stones inside the collectorate and barged into the Secretariat. Actually, the stir which took place yesterday is one which would have invited caning. But the police maintained restraint. The government is not for a confrontation with the people," Balakrishnan said. He was referring to the Youth Congress agitation on Monday in which symbolic survey stones were laid inside Kannur collectorate. He said that the state government would acquire land only after paying full compensation.
Balakrishnan clarified that what he meant while invoking the Liberation Struggle while speaking about the anti K-Rail agitation on Monday was that if some persons are harbouring thoughts about it, then it is not going to happen in the state as the times have changed.
Meanwhile, CPM central committee member EP Jayarajan made disparaging comments against the anti-K-Rail protesters saying that the agitation was carried out by idiots who cannot distinguish between north and south.
"People of the state are not part of the K-Rail protests. They are actually coming forward to get their lands acquired for the project. They (the protesters) are idiots who cannot distinguish between north and south. The leadership of the Congress party itself is in the hands of some vile fellows," he said.
