A mass protest rally was taken out here on Thursday by the anti-GAIL activists from across the district condemning the alleged police excesses on them at Maravattom and Mukkom. The protesters warned the authorities of intensifying their agitation if their concerns were not addressed.
The police stopped the protesters well before they reached the Collectorate gate. The protesters later staged a sit-in on the National Highway, paralysing traffic for about an hour. P. Ubaidulla, MLA, inaugurated the rally.
The land acquisition plans by the authorities appear bleak now with the anti-GAIL activists intensifying their agitation and political parties like the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the Congress, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) offering their support to the protesters.
Anti-GAIL Samara samithi chairman P.A. Salam said here that panchayat-level protests would be organised against the proposed gas pipeline project. He said they were not against the project, but they wanted the project to be realigned as the current plan would lead to eviction and unsettlement of hundreds of people.
Mr. Salam said local-level committees would be formed in 10 grama panchayats and two municipalities to further the agitation.
Though the CPI(M) has distanced itself from the stir, many of its local level leaders and cadres are supporting the protest as they are facing the threat of eviction.