Kerala govt vs Governor: LDF calls for Idukki hartal as Khan refuses to clear Land Bill

The Bill allows construction and related activities on land falling under the Kerala Government Land Assignment Act of 1960.

Now, the assigned lands could be used only for agricultural purposes, and the construction of houses and public roads. The Land Assignment (Amendment) Bill would help regularise constrictions carried by common people in violation of the Land Assignment Act.

Once the new Bill becomes an Act, various constructions, including offices of political parties and places of worship, could be regularised.

The LDF has been at loggerheads with Governor Khan over his withholding Bills passed by the Assembly. Appointments to various state universities added to the friction. The Governor stepped out of his car to take on SFI activists, who blocked his motorcade and waved black flags at him, in Thiruvananthapuram.

Also read: STF moves cautiously as CPI(M), CPI spar over Idukki encroachers

KVVES miffed over hartal call

The LDF called for the hartal in Idukki amidst taunts that the Front in Idukki would be taking out a rally to Raj Bhavan on Tuesday, when the Governor would be visiting Idukki to inaugurate the KVVES’s welfare scheme, Karunya.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan. (South First)

The ruling Front’s Idukki unit planned the Raj Bhavan march to press for assent to the Land Assignment (Amendment) Bill. However, the date clashed with the Governor’s visit to Thodupuzha.

LDF’s Idukki District convenor KK Shivaraman said protest rallies would be organised across the district on Tuesday, but the Governor would not be prevented from travelling.

The KVVES reacted sharply to the hartal call and demanded the LDF to apologise and withdraw from the shutdown move.

“The programme will be held as scheduled. Maximum members will attend the programme. We have no politics, and there is no need to give the function a political colour. Members of all political party members are part of the KVVES,” the formation’s district president Sunny Paimbillil said,

In a media statement, the KVVES also criticised the government for not clarifying the Governor’s doubts regarding the Bill, which it said, if enacted, would be beneficial to the people of Idukki.

It challenged the LDF MLAs from Idukki — MM Mani Roshy Augustine, A Raja, and Vazhoor Soman — to protest when the Governor addresses the Assembly when the Budget session commences. “Will they raise ‘Governor go back’ slogans?” KVVES asked,

Meanwhile, the Governor’s office informed us that he will be attending the function at Thodupuzha despite the hartal.

Also Read: SC criticises Kerala Governor Khan for sitting on Bills for two years

Mani lambasts Governor

Meanwhile, a fresh round of controversy also erupted after MLA and former minister M M Mani allegedly verbally abused Khan for not giving assent to the Bill.

MM Mani. (Wikimedia Commons)

Addressing a protest march in Idukki on Friday night, Mani lambasted the Governor for not giving assent to the Bills, passed by the Legislative Assembly which comprises elected representatives.

During his speech, the senior CPI(M) leader used a derogatory word to refer to the Governor who was not giving assent to various Bills.

“You all (the people) elected these representatives and sent them to the Assembly. They passed the law. But the traders inviting him (a derogatory term) is completely unacceptable,” Mani had said.

Mani, representing Udumbanchola in the state Assembly, is known for his disparaging and misogynist comments.

Farmers’ groups and certain religious organisations have earlier demanded unconditional use of assigned land in the hilly district.

Earlier, some pro-Sangh outfits had urged the Governor not to give his assent alleging that the bill was aimed at regularising the unauthorised construction and land defacement activities taking place in the ecologically sensitive Munnar area.

(With PTI inputs)