Failures overshadow govt.'s anniversary fete, says Satheesan
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan has ridiculed the State government's fourth anniversary celebrations, pointing to the collapse of the work-in-progress National Highway-66 at Kooriyad, deaths of people in wild animal attacks and the police brutality against a Dalit woman in Thiruvananthapuram as stark reminders of the government's failures.
Mr. Satheesan slammed the government for playing 'claim and abdicate' role on the National Highway project. 'This government was taking credit when things were going right, but dodging responsibility when they go wrong. The highway collapse at Kooriyad is the finest example,' he said.
Where are the highway heroes now, he asked. He claimed that the National Highway construction in the State was marked by a lack of accountability and poor coordination with the authorities. 'The State government cannot shirk its responsibility,' he said here on Tuesday.
Mr. Satheesan said that the State government was turning a blind eye on wildlife-related issues. 'It is evident from the recent incident at Uppukulam in Palakkad, where a wild elephant trampled a man to death,' he said.
'Elephant attacks and tiger mauling are old news now. The government is leaving the people living in the hills to fend for themselves,' he said.
According to Mr. Satheesan, the ordeal faced by a Dalit woman in Thiruvananthapuram wass another hallmark of the government. He said it was in continuation of the same attitude that led to the police and forest department's action against rapper Vedan.
The Opposition leader alleged that the government was showing double standards when it came to disbursing funds to ordinary people and splurging lakhs of rupees on public relations agencies for pomp and show.
Mr. Satheesan criticised the government and the CPI(M) for mocking workers who fight for their rights while millions were owed to contract and cooking workers.
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