Thiruvananthapuram : MPs must make their opinion with one voice in their Parliament, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a meeting of MPs convened before the monsoon session of the Parliament starting 20 July. Announcement of this kind, made without first canvassing opinion of diverse caste and religious communities, has caused great anxiety among religious minorities. Taking hasty decision on Personal laws without due discussion is not suitable for democratic governance.
Given that trust and equality of all sections of society are essential for the country’s unity and solidarity, the uniform civil code should not become a polarisation tool by creating dread an anxiety in the minds of minorities. This is a perspective shared by all believers of secular and democratic values, said CM.
The Union Finance Ministry should refrain from squeezing loan limit - a measure that places undue financial stress on Kerala’s fiscal for development and expenditure. MPs should raise their voice against it. The GST Council has not taken any favorable decision toward extension of GST compensation period. At least not so far. The MPs have said they will stand together to fetch State’s due in this regard.
Centre passing legislations on State prerogatives should be strongly opposed for in the Parliament. There’s huge fare hike on flights between 15 August to 15th September. This poses great hardships for expats and non-residents who fly homeward for Onam. The matter has been taken up with the Union Aviation Ministry,
The Central govt should be pressured to meet State’s demand to operate chartered flights in keeping with travel laws. The Centre should grant Point of Call approval for foreign airlines to operate from Kannur. The landstrip for Kozhikode airport development will be acquired in a month’s time.
Permission is awaited for construction EGT lines across railway tracks. Permission shall be made available from the Karnataka government for conducting detailed survey and prepare DPR for Thallaesseri - Mysore, Nilambure - Nanchkode Rail project. Speeding up of this requires Centre’s intervention. The issue must be raised in the Parliament. Intervention is also required for approval of estimate and DPR for the Angamali - Sabari rail project and for its funding. Also requiring intervention is : Kanhangand - Kaniyoor rail line project.
The Central Government approval remains pending with the Central Department of Science and Technology for Sri Chitra Tirunal to form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for KSIDC and Sri Chitra to jointly set up Medical Devices Park. The approval should come through on priority basis. Also procedures must be cleared for the State government to takeover HLL Life Care Ltd. Steps should be taken to hand over Palakkad Instrumentation Ltd to the state government. The company stands on 123 acres of land provided free of cost by the Kerala government.
The meeting of MPs was attended by Ministers, MPs, Chief Secretary, Department Secretaries etc.
