Nambradath Janaki in a conversation with Suresh Gopi MP after inaugurating the Phase II: ManoramaKeezhattur: The 'Keralam Keezhatturilekku' march by the 'Vayalkilikal' protestors, revamped with the added power of political and cultural leads of Kerala, finally reached the Keezhattur paddy fields Sunday.
Nambradath Jananki Amma, the 72-year-old leader of the protest, inaugurated the Phase II of the struggle, announcing in a trembling voice, that the struggle will go on till the decision is revoked.
With Sunday's march, christened 'Keralam Keezhatturilekku' (Kerala heads to Keezhattur), the leaders and cadre of the Vayalkilikal movement who are protesting the acquisition of 200 acres of paddy fields in the locality for a proposed national highway, have relaunched the protest that was packed off by CPM workers and the police in an abrupt crackdown that included burning down of a shed erected by the protestors.
The protestors who assembled at the Town Square, Thaliparamba, marched to the protest site along with prominent leaders and activists and culminated at Keezhattur later in the evening marking the beginning of the second phase of the struggle.
The protestors, under leader Suresh Keezhattur, also pledged that they will strongly oppose the 'extremist model of development being implemented by the CPM government'.
Saying that they understand and uphold the responsibility of a generation that has to protect and preserve the western ghats, paddy fields, wetlands, hills and mountains of Kerala, they renewed the environmental pledge of intergenerational ecological responsibility.
Congress leader V M Sudheeran and other party leaders visited the Keezhattur paddy fields in the morning.
The leader, along with Bharatiya Janata Party MP Suresh Gopi, attended the public meet that saw the relaunch of the protest. Prominent activists including N Venu, C R Neelakandan and 'Grow' Vasu marched with the protestors.
CPM's counter rally
Meanwhile, in a counter move to face the ongoing agitation of farmers, the CPM district committee took out a march in favour of the government decision to go ahead with the project.
The march, 'Janajagratha Yatra', led by CPM Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan, sought to expose the alleged false propaganda unleashed by the outfit 'Vayalkilikal', which is spearheading the stir.
The CPM rejected the contention of the agitators and said the party march was against the attempt of the outfit to put hurdles on the path of development.
At a meeting of the Keezhattur protection group floated by the party, the leader urged the people of Keezhattur to refrain from Sunday's march.
Jayarajan said Vayalkilikal might attempt provocation to gain publicity, and cautioned CPM workers not to run into such traps. He alleged that the agitating group was making a bid to revive a dead struggle with the help of BJP and RSS.
Addressing a press meet here, Taliparamba MLA James Mathew also deplored the agitation and said the government cannot remain a mute spectator in the matter of development.
Paddy fields at Keezhattur. File photoTight security in Kannur
In view of the march, the police have beefed up security around Keezhattur and Taliparamba to prevent any untoward incidents.
Five companies of police were deployed at Taliparamba and nearby places ahead of the Janajagratha march announced by the CPM on Saturday. Most of the police personnel have been brought from other districts.
On Sunday, the police will set up a perimeter around Keezhattur to keep things in check as there are intelligence reports that the situation is hostile.
According to sources, the police have installed security cameras from Taliparamba to Keezhattur to get the photographs of all the participants. Arrangements have also been made to take the video of all the participants.
Flyover proposed
Vayalkilikal group's leader Suresh Keezhattur, meanwhile, rejected an alternative government proposal to build a flyover through the paddy field.
The group insists that a decision should be taken only after considering alternative suggestions which do not harm the environment. Such plans need to be studied scientifically.
The agitators, comprising farmers and local people, alleged that the government proposal would destroy more than 200 acres of paddy field, leaving many people homeless and jobless at Keezhattur village and surrounding area.
It would also result in destruction of wetland of the area, they said, adding that their fight is for the protection of environment and livelihood.
The agitation has taken a political turn as most of the participants are former CPM workers, who were expelled from the party after taking part in the stir.
Though the outfit 'Vayalkilikal' had been on a warpath for the past three months, the agitation came into focus after a group of persons, stated to be CPM activists, set fire to a temporary shed of the protesters on March 14.
It was on the same day that a National Highway Authority of India team arrived in the area for surveying.
In a related development, the house of Suresh Keezhattoor was attacked by a group of unidentified persons on March 22.
