Congress leaders call Palakkad rail division split a betrayal of Kerala
Congress leaders in Kerala protest proposed Palakkad Railway Division bifurcation, calling it a betrayal and demanding political action.
Former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president V.M. Sudheeran on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Union government over its proposal to bifurcate the Palakkad Railway Division, calling it the "biggest betrayal" of Kerala in the history of Indian Railways.
Speaking at a protest dharna organised by the Thrissur District Congress Committee (DCC) in front of Thrissur Railway Station, Mr. Sudheeran demanded that the Kerala Assembly convene a special session to pass a resolution against the move. He also urged an all-party delegation, led by the Chief Minister and comprising all MLAs and political leaders, to meet the Prime Minister and register the state's protest.
The former KPCC chief warned that excluding the high-revenue Mangaluru region from the Palakkad Division would severely hamper railway development in Kerala. He also expressed concern over the reported cancellation of a proposed coach factory at Kanjikode in Palakkad and moves to further shrink the jurisdiction of the Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division.
Mr. Sudheeran accused the BJP-led Union government of weakening India's federal structure and undermining the principles that govern Centre-State relations.
AICC secretary T.N. Prathapan, who delivered the keynote address, alleged that the Centre had adopted a "stepmotherly attitude" towards Kerala, with the division of the Palakkad Railway Division being the latest example. He took a swipe at the BJP's lone Lok Sabha member from the state for remaining silent on the issue.
Mr. Prathapan also targeted the Thrissur MP and Union Minister, claiming that despite sanctioning development projects worth ₹300 crore for Thrissur Railway Station, the works had not been effectively implemented. He accused the MP of taking credit for projects initiated by others, comparing it to the Malayalam expression "Ettukaali Mammunju".
The Congress leaders said the proposed restructuring of railway divisions has raised serious concerns about Kerala's future railway development and called for a united political response to protect the state's interests.