VS Achuthanandan bats for government takeover of Alind and assets

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Putting the Left Government in a spot, former Chief Minister and CPM veteran V S Achuthanandan has reiterated his earlier demand that Alind and its properties should be taken over by the government.

In a detailed statement, the chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission said at this stage his name is being unnecessarily dragged in connection with Alind, which has been defunct for long. VS pointed out the company has landed properties worth thousands of crores, within and outside the state. The only intention of the promoters is to get these properties.

“Realising this, the Left Government brought in an ordinance in 2010 to take over Alind. However, the ordinance lapsed after the Oommen Chandy Government came into power later. The UDF Government had clear intentions in keeping aside the ordinance,” he said.

Later, the Chandy government wrote to the BIFR (Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction) stating the Somani Group was interested in running the organisation. The UDF Government urged BIFR to favourably consider this demand.

VS said the government had assured in the Assembly the company would not be handed over to the Somani Group. Also, it had promised any decision regarding Alind will be taken after consulting the labour unions.

Achuthanandan said the LDF had opposed the move to hand over Alind. “During a press conference in May 2014, I had opposed handing over the company. It was the official stance of the Left Front and the CPM,” VS said, emphasising his stance once again.

The CPM leader said most of the corruption in Alind came to light through Vigilance investigation. Also the Vigilance had submitted many  recommendations, including government takeover of the company.
“I still believe the stance I took as the Opposition Leader according to the Left Front’s and CPM’s policies was correct,” VS said. His statement comes at a time when the state government is not keen on taking over the company.

As Opposition Leader during the last UDF Government, VS had alleged major corruption in the move to hand over Alind properties to the Somani Group.