Solidarity State Working Committee member Mr. K A Faisal flayed the attempt of the State Government of Kerala to yield the roads to the corporate companies in the name of BOT (Build, Operate and Transfer) system. He was addressing the audience after dedicating the symbolic road constructed by the Solidarity on the sidelines of its Ernakulam regional conference.
Denying the roads for the underprivileged by levying tolls on the roads is tantamount to declaring them as untouchables. It is not only a road policy that Kerala is in need but a comprehensive transport policy should be derived which will include road, rail and water transportation policies. It is due to the decline of democracy and fortification of plutocracy, the political parties are notably absent in the struggles led by the caste out people, he said.
“Fight against the anti-people schemes can only be successful when such movements can effectively expose the capitalist political forces. Solidarity struggles are really a support for all such movements. It is the relentless denial of peoples’ genuine needs by the governments that makes the mass fanatics,” noted writer NM Pearson said.
C.R. Neelakantan exclaimed on the unexpected manifestation of a new road policy, which was present neither in the election manifesto of the Left Front nor in the Right. “True policies are now being divorced from the politics and fondness towards capitalism has become the new policy of development,” he continued.
Coordination Committee General Convener Francis Kalathungal, NH17 Samara Samithi Convener Hashim Chenthapilli, Cochin Sacs Director Mr. Rajan Antony, Cheranallor Panchayat Vice President M A Mohammed, Solidarity Dist Committee member KK Basheer , Justine Thomas also spoke.