CPM-CPI feud rages in Munnar
Idukki: Giving a fresh twist to the CPM-CPI tussle in Munnar , a group of CPM workers on Friday encroached upon the land occupied by a CPI worker and hoisted a party flag in front of the house. The flag was hoisted on the land occupied by CPI activist and tribal leader A D Johnson at Chinnakkanal near Munnar.
Johnson said he had been living there since 1997 after the government selected the land to distribute among landless tribespeople.
“The application for title deed is under the consideration of revenue department. But the CPM workers on Friday encroached upon the land and hoisted a party flag here and threatened to kill me,” said Johnson.
CPI had been agitating at Chinnakkanal demanding land to landless estate workers since April 27. As part of the agitation, a group of plantation workers led by the CPI had encroached upon the government land and erected temporary sheds there.
On Thursday, CITU, a feeder organization of the CPM, encroached upon another government land in Chinnakkanal and set up temporary sheds, raising the same demand.
CPI had been agitating at Chinnakkanal demanding land to landless estate workers since April 27. As part of the agitation, a group of plantation workers led by the CPI had encroached upon the government land and erected temporary sheds there.
On Thursday, CITU, a feeder organization of the CPM, encroached upon another government land in Chinnakkanal and set up temporary sheds, raising the same demand.
Meanwhile, the district administration is planning to evict both the CPM and CPI-led estate workers from the government land.
District collector H Dineshan said that a discussion was held with both parties and it was agreed to distribute the land among the landless. “Now, the issue has turned into a political issue between both the parties. If they continue encroachment, the district administration will forcefully evict plantation workers belonging to both parties from the government land,” he said.
“The special team constituted to probe the dubious land deals in Chinnakkanal has started verifying the title deeds issued in the village. Action will be taken after verification,” the collector added.
Meanwhile, CPM district secretary K K Jayachandaran said that the party would not support the act of raising a flag in front of the house of a tribal leader. “The party will look into the issue. The present agitation aims to grab government attention in the issue,” he said.
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