Former chief minister and senior Congress leader Oomen Chandy and other leaders at the protest venue in Munnar. Photo: Aravind Bala / ManoramaThodupuzha: Amid opposition from leaders within the party, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Oomen Chnady on Wednesday met Pembilai Orumai leaders at their protest venue in Munnar.
KPCC vice-president A.K. Mani had asked Chandy not to meet the leaders of Pembilai Orumai, a collective of women workers.
"Even if Chandy meets the leaders, the regional leaders will refrain from going to the protest venue of Pembilai Orumai. The INTUC is also of the same opinion," A.K. Mani had said.
Meanwhile, Idukki DCC president Ibrahimkutty Kallar said Mani's view reflected the opinion of the workers' union alone and that there was no divide in the Congress over Chandy's visit.
After meeting the leaders, Ommen Chandy said the UDF had taken over the ongoing protest in Munnar. "The UDF government had earlier taken taken steps to prevent encroachment in the region. But those measures were hindered by legal hurdles," Chandy said and added that not an inch of land was usurped during the UDF rule in the state.
Meanwhile, the hunger strike by Pembilai Orumai activists entered its second day on Wednesday. The collective said the party's action against the minister was inconsequential to them. “The fasting is not going to end until Mani tenders an apology," Pembilai Orumai leader Gomathi Augustin said.
The activists of the collective had unleashed a stir in Munnar following derogatory comments by electricity minister, M.M. Mani targeting the collective on April 22.
