Kochi: Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan highlights the pioneering role of the late Oommen Chandi and the former Chief Minister of Kerala in the Vizhinkam project of International Port, inaugurating a public meeting organized by the district wing of the United Democratic Front in Kochi.
Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan on Friday said the Vizhinjam port project was the United Democratic Front’s dream child realized by the determination of late Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
The Left Democratic Front had always stood in the way to derail the project. It failed to realize that the project could be made a reality only with the support of the private sector, he said at a program organized here by the UDF’s district wing to commemorate the role played by Oommen Chandy and the UDF government led by him that laid the foundation for the mega project.
The Left Democratic Front, always opposing the project, failed to realize that the project could be made a reality only with the support of the private sector, he said at a program organized here by the UDF’s district wing to celebrate the role played by Oommen Chandy and the UDF government led by him that laid the foundation for the mega project.
The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, then CPI(M) State secretary, had come down upon the project alleging it was a ₹6,000-crore real estate scam. Adding fuel to it “The party mouthpiece Desabhimani had then narrated it as a ‘robbery’ too. Ironically, today, it has turned into their opinion, that a dream project adding another feather to their cap, is highly ridiculous. People will not forget the contributions made by Oommen Chandy even if Mr. Vijayan failed to mention his name at the official start of the trial run of the port,” he said.
The Opposition leader challenged the government to categorically put the steps it had taken to develop the rail and road connectivity for the project. The UDF had warned the government about the impact of the project on the fisherfolk. Though the LDF and the Bharatiya Janata Party tried to scuttle people’s protests, the UDF stood by them, he said.
