Opposition leader Oommen Chandy from Congress will lead a 24-hour fast in front of the state Secretariat against the alleged neglect of Kerala’s problems by the state Government. Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan too will soon lead a fast at the gate of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s official residence in New Delhi against the alleged indifference of the Centre towards Kerala.VS claims that the state Cabinet has endorsed his decision to hold the satyagraha in New Delhi, to protest against the Centre’s failure to help Kerala tide over its crises. These include the losses from this year’s rain havoc that has cost the state an estimated Rs 1400 crore, apart from nearly 200 deaths. VS, who is currently touring the rain-hit Wayanad district, has not announced a date for the satyagraha.Chandy announced that he will lead a 24-hour-fast in front of the Secretariat on August 3 from 10 am. He will protest against the failure of the Government to mitigate the state’s sufferings, including from the outbreak of fevers that has affected thousands, and its inability to provide relief to the rain-hit.According to Chandy, there was no point in the Chief Minister holding the satyagraha in front of the Prime Minister’s residence when his Government has not been able to use the available Central funds and facilities.The Opposition UDF has already declared that it would launch a statewide agitation against the Government’s failure from August 22.Meanwhile, at a meeting held by 20 Kerala Left MPs, it was decided that the Centre would be urged to immediately sanction sufficient relief assistance for the rain- hit from the Calamity Contingency Fund. The MPs plan to take further steps in case the Centre refuses to heed their request.
