Five Kerala legislators on fast in assembly complex

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 17 (IANS) Kerala’s Congress-led opposition Monday intensified its agitation seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into a controversial land purchase by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as five legislators began an indefinite fast in the assembly complex.

Demanding Forest Minister Binoy Viswom’s resignation, leader of opposition and former chief minister Oommen Chandy walked out of the assembly stating that five legislators would sit in the foyer on indefinite fast till their demand was met.


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The five legislators belong to all the five constituents of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

ISRO had purchased 82 acres of forestland in Ponmudi, 75 km from here, from high-profile businessman Savy Mano Mathew to set up a space education institute. The opposition maintains that the land belongs to the forest department and was sold in connivance with Viswom.

The issue has been stalling the house repeatedly ever since the assembly session began earlier this month with the two sides blaming each other. The session ends Thursday.

The opposition held a two-day relay hunger strike in the assembly foyer last week to press its demand for a CBI probe in the land deal.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, however, gave a clean chit to Viswom and blamed the land scam on the UDF who reportedly amended relevant rules in 2003 – when it was in power – to allow people to “usurp” government land.

Raising the issue once again in the assembly, Chandy challenged Achuthanandan and said: “You are trying to shield the corrupt. If you are confident that the deal was possible because of rules we framed in 2003 when we were in power, then include that too and order a probe.”

The controversy has already claimed the first casualty as Kerala Chief Secretary Lizzie Jacob has decided to go on long leave, apparently hurt by Achuthanandan’s criticism on the issue.

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