Kannur: CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury has once again publicly rejected Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's stance on the SilverLine issue.
While briefing the media on the sidelines of the Party Congress here, Yechury said the party's stance on the holding of environmental impact studies was applicable to all megaprojects, including the SilverLine Project.
He said the Chief Minister's assertion that the State Government would go ahead with the project was an expression of the desire of the Chief Minister, his government and the LDF. This does not mean that the project has received the Central Government's nod.
Yerchuri's latest salvo came at a time when it was reported in the media that Pinarayi chose to speak about the SilverLine project in his welcome speech at the inaugural session to give a feeling that he had the backing of the Party Congress on the matter.
However, the party's national leadership is of the view that when the environmental impact assessment is conducted, a compulsory public hearing should be held for the project-affected people.
Yechury said that the party had the same opinion everywhere in India. He also threw indirect hints that the party had not taken a final call on the SilverLine project.
Now, it has become clear that Yechury's position on the issue ran contrary to the Chief Minister's assertion that the State Government would go ahead with the project even if the outcome of the social impact study was negative.
Yechury reiterated his earlier stance that everyone should wait until the survey proceedings of the project are over.
Nobody knew the ground reality. Not only were the State Government's discussions with the Central Government about the proposed joint venture not over, but also the outcome of the discussions between the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister has not yet come out. Moreover, there is no idea on what the Prime Minister is going to do on the issue, Yechury said, while replying to questions on whether the Chief Minister is going ahead with the project with the approval of the party.
Yechury showed his discomfort when the media persons kept on asking questions about the SilverLine project.
At one point, he was heard saying that along with English he was ready to answer in Telugu.
Yechury clarified that the party politburo or the central committee did not interfere with the functioning of the State Government. But if there are any major issues, the party will clarify its stance on them.
Now, all eyes are on the Chief Minister and the CPM State leadership as everyone is eager to know how they will respond to Yechury's public rebuke of the SilverLine Project.
