Aranmula: A virgin plot of land has done what no veteran politician has been able to do, even in this age of coalitions.
Sections of the Congress, the BJP, the CPM and the far Left, the Church, Muslim outfits, Dalit groups and the Sangh parivar have closed ranks against a proposed private international greenfield airport in this Unesco-certified Global Heritage Village in central Kerala.
The unlikely unity has been giving sleepless nights to the sitting Congress MP, who has been accused of promoting corporate interests at the cost of the environment.
The 700-acre plot is near the Western Ghats and is home to wetlands.
“We are not against development. But we cannot allow destruction of wetlands, which play a critical role in managing the water table. Groundwater levels are depleting and the heat is rising every year,” said Kummanam Rajasekharan, a key organiser of the struggle and general secretary of the Hindu Aikya Vedi, a Sangh outfit backing the protest that recently crossed 50 days.
Rajasekharan, known for his organising skills, has brought various groups — divided on caste, religious and political lines — under one umbrella.
Since February 10, sections of the Church, Muslim groups, the CPI(ML) and Dalit organisations have been taking part in a dharna led by the Aranmula Heritage Village Action Council. Rajasekharan is the chief patron.
The protest has now taken on a new dimension — pitting one-time political friends against each other in the coming elections.
Sitting Congress MP Anto Antony, who is seeking re-election on a party ticket from Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency, which includes Aranmula, faces serious competition from friend-turned-foe Peelipose Thomas.
04/04/14 G Ananthakrishnan/Telegraph
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Sections of the Congress, the BJP, the CPM and the far Left, the Church, Muslim outfits, Dalit groups and the Sangh parivar have closed ranks against a proposed private international greenfield airport in this Unesco-certified Global Heritage Village in central Kerala.
The unlikely unity has been giving sleepless nights to the sitting Congress MP, who has been accused of promoting corporate interests at the cost of the environment.
The 700-acre plot is near the Western Ghats and is home to wetlands.
“We are not against development. But we cannot allow destruction of wetlands, which play a critical role in managing the water table. Groundwater levels are depleting and the heat is rising every year,” said Kummanam Rajasekharan, a key organiser of the struggle and general secretary of the Hindu Aikya Vedi, a Sangh outfit backing the protest that recently crossed 50 days.
Rajasekharan, known for his organising skills, has brought various groups — divided on caste, religious and political lines — under one umbrella.
Since February 10, sections of the Church, Muslim groups, the CPI(ML) and Dalit organisations have been taking part in a dharna led by the Aranmula Heritage Village Action Council. Rajasekharan is the chief patron.
The protest has now taken on a new dimension — pitting one-time political friends against each other in the coming elections.
Sitting Congress MP Anto Antony, who is seeking re-election on a party ticket from Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency, which includes Aranmula, faces serious competition from friend-turned-foe Peelipose Thomas.
04/04/14 G Ananthakrishnan/Telegraph
