Pinarayi Vijayan slams railway reorganisation, calls Manguluru transfer move 'utter nonsense'
Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the railway division transfer, deeming it 'utter nonsense' and detrimental to Kerala's development, while also condemning the government's Waqf Act stance and asserting the Deputy Leader post remains with the CPM.
Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the railway division transfer, deeming it 'utter nonsense' and detrimental to Kerala's development, while also condemning the government's Waqf Act stance and asserting the Deputy Leader post remains with the CPM.
Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the railway division transfer, deeming it 'utter nonsense' and detrimental to Kerala's development, while also condemning the government's Waqf Act stance and asserting the Deputy Leader post remains with the CPM.
Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday criticised the Railway Board’s decision to transfer the Mangaluru area up to Ullal from the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway to the Mysuru Division of South Western Railway, calling the move 'utter nonsense'.
Addressing the media, Vijayan said the reorganisation would adversely affect Kerala’s railway development. The move was wrong, he said, urging the State government and MPs to strongly intervene against it. He also called on people to register their protest. Vijayan further demanded an inquiry into whether there was a “crooked plan” to shut down the Palakkad Division citing financial losses incurred by the Railways.
Earlier, Chief Minister V D Satheesan too had opposed the move, terming the decision to transfer the areas “unilateral and unacceptable”.
Responding to questions regarding the ongoing Waqf controversy, Vijayan criticised the State government over what he termed its contradictory stand on the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The dispute centres on the amendments mandating the inclusion of two non-Muslim members in State Waqf Boards, a provision opposed by religious organisations and the Opposition, which view it as interference in institutions managed by the community. Vijayan pointed out that while a petition challenging the amendments was pending before the court, the State government told the court that it was prepared to reconstitute the Waqf Board with two non-Muslim members. Describing the position as strange and contradictory, he said the government had not given any clear explanation for its stand.
Vijayan also addressed the ongoing differences within the Left Democratic Front (LDF) over the post of Deputy Leader of the Opposition. The issue has become a point of contention within the front, with the CPM's ally CPI demanding the post. Vijayan, however, asserted that the post would remain with the CPM.
“I have to submit the formal letter regarding the appointment of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to the Speaker. We will nominate only a CPM leader for the post,” he added.