SilverLine: LDF to hold mass rally on April 19

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF meeting has decided to hold a mass rally in the capital on April 19 with the participation of thousands of people as part of the campaign to overcome the widespread protests against the SilverLine project. The chief minister and prominent Left Front leaders will take part. Similar programs will be organized at the district and local levels. People will also be made aware of the project through home visits.

Meanwhile, allied party leaders expressed concern over the protests against the K-Rail stoning in various parts of the state. Though no one opposed it, leaders said the concerns should be allayed to convince people about the project. LJD spokesman Varghese George suggested that an all-party meeting be convened, but the meeting did not take it at face value. The general assessment of the meeting was that the UDF, BJP and a section of the media are waging a political struggle by misleading the people.

Convener A Vijayaraghavan told the meeting that a small section of people questioned the plan during door to door explanation of K-Rail. He added that the government should explain what the facts are and what the government intends to do with the project. The CM explained that the explanation given by the LDF in all the districts would be part of the government's pre-determination. Once approved at each stage, the government will move towards implementation. He also explained that foreign loans need to be properly spent for the project. The CPI (M) delegation said that people should go ahead and explain things to them as they are worried and are now listening to the words of the UDF and the BJP. The meeting suggested that convincing the people that the strike was politically motivated would change the misconceptions and explain the issue of compensation.