T'PURAM: A day after CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan sought the cooperation of KPCC president K Sudhakaran for K-Rail project, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said the opposition was blindly attacking big-ticket projects as they feared losing their political relevance in the successive LDF rule.
CM said the opposition was taking an adamant stand against K-Rail project as they knew the project proposed will not remain on paper, and the development it would bring forth in the state would challenge the very existence of UDF and BJP. He was replying to the discussions on the governor's address in the Assembly.
Theorising why LDF was able to retain power amidst the Covid-19 induced economic and health crisis and the natural calamities that preceded, Vijayan said it was because people were convinced of a political and financial alternative propounded and practised by the LDF government. "People were convinced of the committed, popular and transparent rule. That's why people wanted LDF to continue. We are very much aware of the same. The government's actions will only reflect public sentiment," CM said.
Debate overbig ticket projects happen only because everyone feels that the projects announced will take off in a time-bound manner. "Who would engage in fierce debates if they believe that such big-ticket projects will only remain on paper? Comprehensive development is the policy of LDF. Megaprojects and social security programmes are part of that policy," he said.
CM said UDF, with the support of BJP, tried to rake up an unnecessary controversy over the gold smuggling case. He also said the central agencies have miserably failed to answer the two most important questions over the gold smuggling case. "Who brought the gold? Who are the first and last links in the whole affair? These two questions remain unaddressed and Congress is not interested in finding out answers for these questions. UDF only wants to dent the image of the state government," he said.
