Ruling LDF to bring in law to protect government lands

The ruling LDF in Kerala is working on a new legislation to protect state-owned lands in the wake of widespread encroachments of government lands in different parts of the state, CPI's state unit today said.
Kanam Rajendran, state secretary of the party, the second largest coalition partner in the ruling front, said here that the LDF was mulling introducing a new system to protect government lands.
"The LDF is mulling to bring in a new system to protect government lands and check its usurpation," he said at a 'meet-the-press' programme, organised by Kerala Union of Working Journalists.
He also said a new judicial system should be in place to avoid inordinate delay in the acquisition and distribution of excess land.

On LDF government's liquor policy, Rajendran said abstinence and not total prohibition is the declared stand of the ruling front in the issue, which was clearly stated in its election manifesto also.
"The LDF government will announce its liquor policy before coming March. It will not be the same as that of previous the Oommen Chandy government. Abstinence is our stand and the new liquor policy will be based on it," he said.

When asked about the 'journalists-lawyers stand off' and scribes prevented from reported court proceedings in the state, he said "court is not a private property of anyone but a public space... But, the government has its own limitations to intervene in the issues happening within the court."

"To settle the issue, accreditation cards should be issued to journalists for court reporting in the state High Court on the lines of Supreme Court. High Court should take initiative for this," he said.
On the recent political violence and murders reported in parts of the state, Rajendran said it was the responsibility of the state government to take the initiative to solve the issues.
He also flayed BJP for its alleged attempt to portray at the national level that law and order in the state had collapsed.