Kerala CM wants Munnar evictions to continue

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan yesterday dismissed the objections raised by the Communist Party of India (CPI) over the Munnar eviction of encroachers as "political".

He ordered K. Suresh Kumar, special official in charge of the Munnar mission, to continue the eviction process regardless of such objections.

The eviction process had slowed down in the past few days following objections. The chief minister issued the instruction following talks he held with the special officer at Aluva Palace.

Achuthanandan also said that the stand taken by the CPI was political and it would not affect the mission of the special task force.

Meanwhile, Kumar said that he was not responding to allegations made by the CPI. Talking to reporters after meeting Achuthanandan, he said that the government had given permission to proceed with the eviction drive.