Farmers Movement Archive

CPI(M) launches drive to seek support for SilverLine

In a bid to outdo naysayers of the government’s SilverLine project, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] has launched a counter-campaign to drum up support for the endeavour. Pamphlets are being distributed during the three-day door-to-door campaign to explain the salient features of the K-Rail project and dispel alleged falsehoods propagated by its critics. CPI(M) district secretary Anavoor Nagappan told media persons here on Monday that outreach programmes will be organised in each district to present the government’s vision among eminent personalities representing socio-cultural, industrial and other avenues. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will lead the State-wide programme that will get under way in the capital city on January 4, he said. “The State government and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) will spare no efforts to allay the genuine concerns that have cropped up over the project. At the same time, we will not be deterred by those who aim to torpedo infrastructure development in the State,” said Mr. Nagappan. He expressed confidence that the aggressive campaign will turn the tide in favour of the government, which had faced a similar crisis during the initial stages of the GAIL pipeline project. The CPI(M), however, refused to comment on Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor’s stance on the project. The Congress leader has come under fire within the party for reportedly distancing himself from the party’s campaign against the SilverLine project. Mr. Nagappan also announced that the district conference of the CPI(M) will be held at Parassala from January 14 to 16. As many as 198 delegates are expected to participate. Host of programmes A slew of programmes are lined up in the run-up to the conference. They will get under way with a seminar on Post-Truth Media led by media critic Sebastian Paul in Udiyankulangara on Tuesday (December 28). A dance performance by Soumya Sukumaran later will kick off the cultural programmes scheduled to be held across the district. A ‘kisan mazdoor mahapanchayat’ will be held at Neyyattinkara on January 6 to honour the participants of the farmers’ protest in the national capital. Leaders of All India Kisan Sabha and All India Agricultural Workers Union will participate. Former Education Minister C. Raveendranath will inaugurate a two-day Science Festival for school students at Parassala on January 8. Health Minister Veena George will participate in the valedictory programme the following day.

The Hindu

2021-12-28

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,KERALA