KOTTAYAM: LDF convener A Vijayaraghavan slammed the Congress for halting the progress and the development of Kerala which 'had earned the approval of the world over the years'.
Speaking at a SilverLine awareness programme in Thengana near Changanassery on Tuesday, he said that no government or party could reject a high-speed transport project. He asked whose interests were being protected by those opposing K-Rail.
Congress and UDF are turning their face away from a development which is the need of the hour. This is an anti-people, anti-society stand, he added. Vijayaraghavan said people who surrender land and building for the project will get a good compensation which the chief minister had assured.
Slamming the opposition leader, Vijayaraghavan said VD Satheesan doesn't understand this development. Congress leaders want to go to jail by removing survey stones. No Congress party worker in Kerala can defeat the communists through such agitations, he said, adding that he had met people who remove teeth (dentists) but not those who remove survey stones.
Vijayaraghavan said once the project is implemented, any person in Kerala can travel from one place to another and assure his family that he would be home by evening. He also said that Congress, UDF leaders may like to say that they will come after a week since they are opposing the project.
He added that communists were found guilty of opposing computers and tractors. "We did not oppose these then. We were not against them but we only wanted to ensure the rehabilitation of those who had lost their jobs in that peculiar situation. When science turns into technology it becomes useful for the people," he said.
He said that Indian Railways has many shortcomings with the major one being its inability to increase speed over the years. He also said that Kerala has the least number of national highways.
Regarding the ongoing protests against K-rail, Vijayaraghavan said Congress has sought the help of BJP and SDPI for protests. He added that in Parliament, Congress sought the support of the Centre to stop development in state.
