Thiruvananthapuram, As Kerala celebrates the docking of the first mother ship at the Vizhinjam International Seaport, the Congress on Thursday expressed displeasure over the government's alleged decision to exclude opposition leaders from the ceremony.
A large cargo ship, 'San Fernando', from China arrived at the newly built Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala on Thursday, marking the first arrival of a container ship at India's first international deepwater transshipment port.
Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor announced that he would not attend the program organized to officially welcome the ship, citing lack of progress in demands for compensation and rehabilitation of the local people.
The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), meanwhile, claimed that the project was the "baby" of former Chief Minister late Oommen Chandy and asked that it be named after the late leader.
Tharoor said that the commitments made by the previous UDF government were not respected by the current UDF government.
In a post on social media platform this year.
Meanwhile, KPCC president K Sudhakaran said it was former chief minister Chandy's sheer determination that made the seaport a reality and urged the government to name it after the Congress leader.
"But the Pinarayi Vijayan government is deliberately ignoring Chandy's contribution to the project. The Left government's intolerance is evident in its refusal to invite the opposition leader to the event being organized to welcome the first mothership "Sudhakaran said.
Sudhakaran said that when the UDF government went ahead with the Vizhinjam project, the LDF and the CPI(M) had tried their best to stop it.
"Pinarayi Vijayan, who tried to end the project, is now taking credit for it," Sudhakaran alleged.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan said the Vizhinjam international seaport was the "baby of the UDF".
"It was the dream project of the UDF government. It was Oommen Chandy's sheer determination that made this project a reality.
"Chief Minister Vijayan used to say that the Vizhinjam port was a Rs 6,000-crore real estate scam. Those who insulted Chandy and the UDF are now taking credit for the project. This shows their double standards," Satheesan said.
Meanwhile, UDF coordinator MM Hassan on Thursday said the UDF will organize marches across the state and praised the "contribution of Oommen Chandy" in making the project a reality.
"There is no doubt that the Vizhinjam project is the child of Oommen Chandy and the UDF. Now the Congress leaders are not invited to the events because last time, the LoP and Thiruvananthapuram MP had mentioned the role of Chandy and the UDF". Hassan said.
The mother ship received a watery salute from four tugboats on Thursday, which took it to the dock.
The San Fernando, a 300-meter long cargo ship, will unload 1,900 containers at Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL).
The total investment for Vizhinjam port amounted to Rs 8,867 crore. Of this, the state government and the central government have allocated Rs 5,595 crore and Rs 818 crore respectively.
Equipped with modern equipment and advanced IT and automation systems, Vizhinjam will become India's first semi-automated port and is expected to become operational in September or October 2024.
A large cargo ship, 'San Fernando', from China arrived at the newly built Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala on Thursday, marking the first arrival of a container ship at India's first international deepwater transshipment port.
Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor announced that he would not attend the program organized to officially welcome the ship, citing lack of progress in demands for compensation and rehabilitation of the local people.
The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), meanwhile, claimed that the project was the "baby" of former Chief Minister late Oommen Chandy and asked that it be named after the late leader.
Tharoor said that the commitments made by the previous UDF government were not respected by the current UDF government.
In a post on social media platform this year.
Meanwhile, KPCC president K Sudhakaran said it was former chief minister Chandy's sheer determination that made the seaport a reality and urged the government to name it after the Congress leader.
"But the Pinarayi Vijayan government is deliberately ignoring Chandy's contribution to the project. The Left government's intolerance is evident in its refusal to invite the opposition leader to the event being organized to welcome the first mothership "Sudhakaran said.
Sudhakaran said that when the UDF government went ahead with the Vizhinjam project, the LDF and the CPI(M) had tried their best to stop it.
"Pinarayi Vijayan, who tried to end the project, is now taking credit for it," Sudhakaran alleged.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan said the Vizhinjam international seaport was the "baby of the UDF".
"It was the dream project of the UDF government. It was Oommen Chandy's sheer determination that made this project a reality.
"Chief Minister Vijayan used to say that the Vizhinjam port was a Rs 6,000-crore real estate scam. Those who insulted Chandy and the UDF are now taking credit for the project. This shows their double standards," Satheesan said.
Meanwhile, UDF coordinator MM Hassan on Thursday said the UDF will organize marches across the state and praised the "contribution of Oommen Chandy" in making the project a reality.
"There is no doubt that the Vizhinjam project is the child of Oommen Chandy and the UDF. Now the Congress leaders are not invited to the events because last time, the LoP and Thiruvananthapuram MP had mentioned the role of Chandy and the UDF". Hassan said.
The mother ship received a watery salute from four tugboats on Thursday, which took it to the dock.
The San Fernando, a 300-meter long cargo ship, will unload 1,900 containers at Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL).
The total investment for Vizhinjam port amounted to Rs 8,867 crore. Of this, the state government and the central government have allocated Rs 5,595 crore and Rs 818 crore respectively.
Equipped with modern equipment and advanced IT and automation systems, Vizhinjam will become India's first semi-automated port and is expected to become operational in September or October 2024.
