Vayalar Ravi, Ahamed criticise Achuthanandan's parliament protest plan

New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) Two central ministers from Kerala, Vayalar Ravi and E. Ahamed, Tuesday criticised the state's Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's decision to hold a march to parliament Oct 17 to protest the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's alleged negligence of the state.

The liaison committee of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led ruling coalition had Monday announced that Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan would lead ministers, legislators and MPs in the protest march on the day the parliament session begins.

Terming the decision as politically motivated, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed alleged that the strike was being organised 'to protect the CPI-M's party line' and to hide the internal dispute in both the CPI-M and the LDF.

'The Manmohan Singh government is the most friendly government for Kerala. I, Antony (Defence Minister A.K. Antony) and Ahamed are doing everything possible for the development of the state,' Vayalar Ravi told IANS.

The Achuthanandan ministry, he alleged, had failed in all areas of administration.

Citing veteran Marxist late E.M.S. Namboothiripad's ideology of 'struggle and rule', Vayalar Ravi accused the CPI-M of following an ideology of the late 1960s even in the changed 21st century.

Ahamed, who is currently on a visit to Dubai, said the LDF had a 'narrow-minded' outlook.

'Achuthanandan ministry's inexperience and narrow-minded outlook are the main reasons behind the lack of development in the state,' Ahamed told IANS over telephone from Dubai.

He urged the chief minister to thoroughly examine the UPA government's track record as far as Kerala was concerned and said it would prove that the Manmohan Singh government was the only government that has done maximum for the state's development.

LDF convener Vaikom Viswan said several issues including the sharp cut in the rice quota for the state and the reduction in Kerala's share of electricity from the central pool would be highlighted in the agitation led by Achuthanandan.