The Congress in Kerala on Friday declared that it would go to any extent, including the option of an agitation, to end the Centre's ''neglect'' towards the state even as Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar softened his stand on giving special drought relief assistance. Talking to newspersons at the party headquarters, Indira Bhavan, PCC vice-president A.C. Jose and general secretary Kodikunnil Suresh said the party would seek immediate intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to end the ''cruel treatment being meted out to Kerala.''
The issues like the Centre's negative approach towards the state's request for drought relief assistance, allowing multi-port import of rubber and delay in the finalisation of the Vallarpadam container terminal would be taken up at the coming AICC session.
Asked whether Pawar's statement, that Kerala was not eligible for drought relief assistance, was meant for helping the Left parties with whom his party has an alliance in Kerala, Jose said he did not want to mix politics into the issue. ''All the 19 MPs from Kerala who support the UPA Government should lodge their strong protest against the attitude of the government when the next session begins,'' he added.
