Thrikkakkara: K-Rail survey becomes hot topic among leaders

KOCHI: Leaders of all three political fronts on Tuesday took up the K-Rail issue in the Thrikkakkara by-election campaign. While the LDF leaders hailed the decision to stop the installation of survey stones, the UDF and NDA leaders mocked the government over the decision.

Opposition Leader VD Satheesan said that the government seemed to be having two opinions on the installation of survey stones. Ministers are saying that the stones will be installed at places where they are needed, contrary to the government's order not to install the survey stones. How many people were beaten by the police for opposing the installation of stones? How many were put behind the bars? The government should withdraw the false charges against the protesters," Satheesan said.

Meanwhile, Minister J Chinchu Rani said that the SilverLine project was the state's most prestigious project. She said this during the inauguration of Dr Joe Joseph's constituency tour yesterday. She also said that people should give an apt reply to those who are standing against the development of the state.

Former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said that there was no need to install survey stones to acquire land for the project. "Opposition need not suffer hardships by uprooting survey stones. Everything can be done through the GPS system," he said.

BJP state general secretary C Krishnakumar said in a press conference that the state government was rushing behind the K-rail, which was a huge liability to Kerala, without even implementing the projects funded by the Centre.