Row in Kerala after Opposition leader not invited to Vizhinjam port inauguration
A fresh political row broke out in Kerala over the exclusion of Opposition Leader VD Satheesan from the commissioning ceremony of the Vizhinjam International Transhipment Port, set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2.The Opposition leader also rejected the government's claim that the event was part of the state government's fourth anniversary celebrations, and therefore, opposition leaders were not invited due to their declared boycott. 'Is this the fourth year anniversary? Then is the Prime Minister coming to celebrate the LDF government's anniversary? Are CPI(M) and BJP celebrating together now?' Satheesan asked pointedly. 'Let the BJP leadership clarify that.'advertisementHe alleged that the decision to exclude him was deliberate. 'They were afraid I would speak some uncomfortable truths about the port's history. I have no personal complaints, it's their decision. The public is watching,' he said.
Ports Minister VN Vasavan defended the government, stating on Tuesday that Satheesan was indeed invited on official letterhead. But the explanation has done little to contain the political fallout.Satheesan on Wednesday said he received an official invitation only after public criticism erupted over his omission. 'I was invited only after the controversy broke out,' he said, referring to a letter sent by Ports Minister VN Vasavan.Satheesan, however, questioned the nature of the invitation, saying it lacked clarity. 'The letter did not state why I was being invited or whether I am a participant or just an attendee. There wasn't even a programme notice along with it,' he said.advertisementKerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President K Sudhakaran sharpened the attack, accusing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of political manoeuvring. 'The Chief Minister embarrassed himself by trying to keep the opposition leader away from the inauguration of the Dream Project,' Sudhakaran said.He further alleged that inviting Modi while excluding Satheesan was a strategy by Vijayan to cosy up to the BJP and escape scrutiny in a case involving the Chief Minister's daughter. 'Pinarayi, who didn't even mention Oommen Chandy during last year's celebration when the first ship arrived, should correct that mistake now. He tried to take credit for the port even as a family affair,' Sudhakaran wrote, demanding the port be named after Chandy, who he described as the real architect of the project.The Rs 8,867-crore Vizhinjam port, developed by Adani Ports under a public-private partnership model, is being hailed as a game-changer for India's maritime logistics. The project received its commercial commissioning certificate in December 2023, with full operations expected by 2028.
IN THIS STORY#Kerala#Pinarayi Vijayan
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