Why Govt. Plans to Buy Govt. Land from Evangelist Yohannan ?

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP national executive committee member V Muraleedharan has remarked that the government does not require permission from KP Yohannan for reclaiming Cheruvalli Estate and constructing an airport in its place. He made it clear that there are no objections towards construction of Erumeli airport, with the actual reason for dissent lying in craftily making a private party part of the airport project. 

 

Pointing out that the state government is purchasing its own land from a private party and thereby making the private party a part of the airport project, Muraleedharan made it clear that permission from KP Yohannan is not required. 

 

“Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has stated that Erumeli airport will be constructed after reclaiming the land – Cheruvalli Estate in Pathanamthitta- which is with KP Yohannan currently. There is nothing wrong in constructing an airport in government property. But the government itself has stated that Cheruvalli Estate is an illegal possession. Therefore, buying back an illegally possessed land and ensuring that KP Yohannan has a share in the project is what will be opposed,” said Muraleedharan. 

 

Pointing out how the current possessors of Cheruvalli Estate- Believers’ Church- have been giving widespread propaganda to the news that the land has been purchased by state government, Muraleedharan said, “But the Court ruling makes it clear that the handing over of Cheruvalli Estate is an illegal transaction. The report has been submitted by a special officer appointed by the state government, Ernakulam district collector MG Rajamanikyam, following Court ruling. 

 

Muraleedharan added that the state government should also remember that as much as five lakh acres of land is under illegal possession, being confiscated by various companies and individuals. “What is being resisted is the move which involves graft of crores of rupees and not the airport at Erumeli. These protests against those who have confiscated government land will continue perennially,” he said.