Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Assembly that his government did not show any reluctance to negotiate with agitators who were protesting against the construction of the port at Vizhinjam.
In response to the adjournment motion, the Chief Minister said that the government is giving importance to the realization of the Vizhinjam port project. He categorically asserted that port construction cannot be stopped.
“The sub-committee negotiated with the protesters on behalf of the government. The strike began on August 16. The cabinet sub-committee held a discussion on 19. Discussions were held again on August 24. The panel met the agitators again on September 5 and 23. There were informal talks as well,” Pinarayi told the Assembly.
“The agitators put forward seven demands. Of this, five were resolved in the discussion of the cabinet sub-committee,” he added.
Alleging that the Government adopted a “hostile attitude” towards the fishermen protesting against the construction of Vizhinjam port, the Opposition demanded a judicial probe into the recent violent incidents. The investigation should bring out the real truth and not cover up the facts, they said during the discussion in the state Assembly.
The opposition front made it clear that they were not demanding that the construction of the upcoming port be stopped. But, development should be brought through consensus and not through confrontation, Congress legislator M Vincent, who moved the motion, said.
The Left government was not keen to reach out to the fishermen community and address their woes despite the latter approaching the authorities with their concerns several times, he alleged. He accused the state government of viewing the agitators with a “hostile attitude” and charged that some cabinet ministers had called them “terrorists” and “anti-nationals”.
The Kovalam MLA also alleged that there was a deliberate attempt by the police to provoke the fishermen’s community and thus create issues in the region.
Several people were arrested without any reason and a case was registered even against the Archbishop, he said, adding that a pregnant woman was summoned to the police station in the name of interrogation. “So, a judicial probe should be ordered to bring out the truth regarding the violent incidents reported on November 26 and 27 as part of the stir. But that investigation should be to bring out the real truth and not to cover up the facts,” Vincent said.
Meanwhile, CPM’s Saji Cheriyan said it was the former UDF government under the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy that had granted permission for the construction of the deep sea port. “After giving all the permission and clearance during their reign, the opposition is now trying to fish in the troubled water,” he alleged.